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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 the 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 3 credit reporting agencies, describes a good credit score as being between 700 and 750 and an excellent score as 750 or above.
VantageScore, a credit scoring model developed by the 3 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 to 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.
Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024.
Annual fee of $95
3x points on air travel, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and hotels
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.
This card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Pros
The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges,Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
$100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
We love the fact that this card has no preset spending limit, as well as some incredible travel insurance in an increasingly uncertain world of travel.
Why We Like Earning American Express Membership Rewards Points
American Express has done a fantastic job fine-tuning its signature rewards program, known as Membership Rewards.
If you follow our points and miles valuations, you’ll discover that Amex Membership Rewards points are the most valuable, worth 2.2 cents each. And if you earn 5x points, you’re earning a return on your spending of around 11%.
You can also use your points for cash-back, statement credits, charity, Amex Travel bookings, gift cards, merchandise, and more. Just don’t expect to get anywhere near the same value as you would when using Amex’s transfer partners.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.
Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.
Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.
Pros
10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
Add authorized users for no additional annual fee
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
$395 annual fee
Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more – you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Our next, runner-up credit card for good to excellent credit is the Capital One Venture X card. Anecdotally, the Capital One Venture X card seems to be more difficult to get approved for than the Amex Platinum card, but it actually has a slightly different value proposition.
In fact, it might make sense to have both the Amex Platinum card and Capital One Venture X card in your wallet.
In any case, cardholders will enjoy a substantial welcome bonus, as well as up to 10x Capital One miles:
5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles on all other purchases
Even though earning 10x miles is certainly an attention-grabbing benefit, we love the fact that you earn at least 2x miles on all non-bonused purchases.
Hot Tip: Learn more about the benefits of the Capital One Venture X card in our detailed guide!
Why We Like Earning Capital One Miles
Capital One Miles shares a lot of similarities with American Express Membership Rewards. These can be used in a variety of ways, and we generally value Capital One miles at 1.8 cents each.
That translates to a maximum return on spending from the Capital One Venture X card of 18% if earning 10x miles on certain purchases.
Although your redemption value can exceed our valuations when booking award travel, it will sink dramatically if you use miles for other purposes, like gift cards, statement credits, travel booked through Capital One Travel, or online shopping.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This is the go-to card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants and those who want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points atU.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.
There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are a number of other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.
Pros
4x points per $1 at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
3x points per $1 on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
Up to $120 dining credit, which is good at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Milk Bar, participating Shake Shack locations, and Wine.com (up to $10 per month)
Hot Tip: The Amex Gold card often has additional discounts and bonus rewards you can take advantage of through Amex Offers!
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.
Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
The Citi Premier® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!
Pros
3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
Access to Citi transfer partners
Annual hotel credit
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
$95 annual fee
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
One of our favorite credit cards for earning transferrable rewards is the Citi Premier card. If you want just 1 card to cover the vast majority of your everyday and travel expenses, the Citi Premier card could be a fantastic choice for you.
And also, the Citi Premier card, which is best suited for those with good to excellent credit, may be slightly easier to get approved for than the other personal credit cards in this guide.
First of all, the Citi Premier card usually offers an amazing welcome bonus. But what gives this card the X factor is the ability to earn 3x ThankYou Points in many categories with no caps or limits:
Air travel
Gas stations
Hotels
Restaurants
Supermarkets
From this list, you can start to appreciate how these purchases probably cover the vast majority of your spending activity, which will have you racking up rewards quickly.
All other purchases earn 1x points.
This card offers an up to $100 annual hotel savings benefit for a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through thankyou.com, once per calendar year.
The Citi Premier card also comes with no foreign transaction fees, zero liability fraud protection, contactless payments, access to Citi Entertainment, and authorized users for no additional annual fee.
You can also use Citi ThankYou Points for cash-back, statement credits, bookings through the Citi ThankYou travel portal, gift cards, and more, albeit at a reduced redemption value.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Pros
10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit
Priority Pass airport lounge access
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
Rental car elite status with National and Avis
Cons
$550 annual fee
Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
In general, good to excellent credit is required for this credit card, and you can expect to earn a welcome offer plus up to 10x Ultimate Rewards points on purchases:
It also has a unique benefit of a 50% redemption bonus when booking travel through Ultimate Rewards and when using Pay Yourself Back on select rotating categories, which gives you a redemption value of 1.5 cents per point.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are our second-most valuable rewards currency, right behind Amex Membership Rewards. We value them at 2.0 cents apiece, which translates to a maximum return on spending of up to 20% when using the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
Alternatively, you can “settle” for lower value through other redemptions like gift cards, statement credits, Pay Yourself Back, Chase travel portal bookings, Amazon.com, and charity.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 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®.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cardson the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros
5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide
$50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
Excellent travel and car rental insurance
10% annual bonus points
No foreign transaction fees
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)
Cons
$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 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®.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
The last, but certainly not least, personal credit card in this guide is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which is Chase’s flagship mid-tier credit card.
The approval criteria for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is generally a bit more relaxed than that of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
Right now, it has a terrific welcome bonus and an earning power of up to 5x Ultimate Rewards points:
5x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
5x points on travel purchased through the Chase travel portal
3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
2x points on all other travel purchases
1x points everywhere else
As you can see, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card carries some exceptional rewards. It gets even better because cardholders get a 10% anniversary bonus of rewards earned after every cardmember year.
The 5 Best Business Cards for Good to Excellent Credit
What if you’re a business owner with good to excellent credit and want to get a shiny new credit card for your business?
Whether you’re looking at a new credit card for an existing business or a new business you’re planning on starting, we’ll show you the best options here!
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.
5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
Up to $200 annual airline fee credit on your selected qualifying airline
Statement credits on select purchases with your card
35% airline bonus when using Pay With Points (up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year)
Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)
Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card®.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
The business version of the Amex Platinum card is the Amex Business Platinum card. But don’t be misled by the similar names because these 2 cards actually have a totally different set of benefits for their cardholders.
Similar to the Amex Platinum card, though, the Amex Business Platinum card offers a huge welcome offer to its new cardmembers.
You can earn up to 5x Membership Rewards points on purchases with the Amex Business Platinum card:
5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked via Amex Travel
1.5x points on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more elsewhere (up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year)
1x points on other purchases
And if you pay close attention, you can get more than $1,400 in statement credits every year:
Up to $400 in Dell credits (distributed as 2 $200 credits semi-annually)
You’ll also get up to $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fees, as well as these tremendous travel benefits:
Access to Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection
Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection
35% airline bonus when using Pay With Points via Amex Travel (up to 1 million points back every calendar year) for a redemption value of ~1.53 cents per point
Finally, the Amex Business Platinum card has cell phone insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, no foreign transaction fees, and no preset spending limit (rates and fees).
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).
Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).
Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership
The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.
No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status
Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
MORE REWARDS: Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month. 1X is earned for other purchases.**
**4X points apply to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year.*
PAY OVER TIME OPTION: Decide whether you want to pay eligible purchases in full each month—or pay over time with interest.*
We love the Amex Business Gold card because it excels in rewards without the large price tag associated with offering luxury travel perks as the Amex Business Platinum card has.
At the moment, the Amex Business Gold card is being promoted with an exceptional welcome offer and the ability to earn 4x Membership Rewards points on the top 2 categories where your business spends the most every month from this list:
Airfare purchased directly from airlines
U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
U.S. purchases made directly from select technology providers of computer hardware, software, and cloud solutions
U.S. purchases at gas stations
U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
U.S. purchases for shipping
Your 4x points are capped at the first $150,000 spent every calendar year, which should land you at 600,000 points earned with a return on spending of 8.8%, worth more than $13,000!
Additionally, the Amex Business Gold card has the ability to book stays at The Hotel Collection, no preset spending limit, and no foreign transaction fees (rates and fees).
The Amex Business Gold card has no additional annual fees for employee cards after the first employee card of $50 per year (rates and fees).
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash-back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases, especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.
Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.
Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.
Pros
3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
Cell phone protection
Purchase protection
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Rental car insurance
Extended warranty coverage
Cons
No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Currently, the Ink Business Preferred card is one of Chase’s most popular business credit cards. And it’s easy to see why because Chase reels you in with an enormous welcome bonus and the ability to earn 3x Ultimate Rewards points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases every cardmember year in these select business categories:
Ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
Internet, cable, and phone services
Shipping expenses
Travel
So if you see yourself spending a lot of money on ads or travel for your business, for instance, you can enjoy some fabulous rewards, worth a return on spending of up to 6%.
Furthermore, earn 5x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025, and 1x points elsewhere.
This credit card is a bit light on travel benefits, but it still comes with exceptional travel insurance (including primary rental car coverage), purchase protection, extended warranty, cell phone insurance, employee cards for no additional annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
As a business owner, you likely keep pretty busy and probably prefer a credit card that just keeps things simple.
If so, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card might be just the card for you. From zero annual fee to a flat cash-back rate, the card is a no-frills option that you don’t have to think twice about.
Don’t forget too, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Pros
1.5% cash-back on all purchases
No annual fee
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Employee cards at no additional cost
Earn flexible rewards
Cons
3% foreign transaction fee
Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 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. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
No Annual Fee
Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
The Ink Business Unlimited card, which is also issued by Chase, appeals to those who need rewards on all business purchases at an enhanced rate, as opposed to specific bonus categories.
This card entices you with a fantastic welcome bonus, plus a flat 1.5% cash-back rewards on all purchases. Note that you’ll still get 5% cash-back on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025, on this card.
Additionally, the 0% introductory APR promotion, as shown in the table above, can help you fund your business and defer your interest payments for a little while.
This credit card earns rewards that can be converted from 1.5% cash-back to 1.5x Ultimate Rewards points if you happen to also have a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Chase Sapphire Reserve card, or Ink Business Preferred card.
Lastly, there’s purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, primary rental car coverage, no-additional-charge employee cards, and more. Best of all, there’s no annual fee.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has a lot going for it that makes it a compelling choice for small business owners. The card features a very lucrative 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year.
When you factor in that the card has no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter, you could be adding big value back into your business for no cost out of pocket.
Pros
Earn 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year
Earn 2% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% back on all other purchases
Travel insurance and purchase protection
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Employee cards at no additional cost
No annual fee
Cons
Spending caps in bonus categories
Low points earning outside of bonus categories
3% foreign transaction fees
Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 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. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
No Annual Fee
Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
The very last credit card we’ll be highlighting in this guide is the Ink Business Cash card, which many people consider to be the sister credit card to the Ink Business Unlimited card.
Right now, you’ll earn an incredible welcome bonus, as well as the 0% introductory promotion as part of the bonus.
Also, you’ll earn up to 5% cash-back:
5% cash-back on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
5% cash-back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases every cardmember year at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services
2% cash-back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases every cardmember year at gas stations and restaurants
1% cash-back on other purchases
Just like the Ink Business Unlimited card, this card earns rewards that can easily be converted to Ultimate Rewards points if you have an Ultimate Rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which would transform your 5% cash-back to 5x Ultimate Rewards points, doubling the value of your rewards.
The Ink Business Cash card also has roadside dispatch, purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, primary car rental coverage, fee-free employee cards, and no annual fee.
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.
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.
Enrollment required through Capital One website or mobile app. Upon enrollment, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit 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 American Express® Gold Card, click here. For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here. For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.
Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common credit scores used by credit reporting agencies are the FICO or VantageScore. Good to excellent credit means that your credit score for either of these is in a range between 700 and 850.
The Chase 5/24 rule is an unpublished rule based on crowd-sourced feedback of Chase credit card approvals and denials. It refers to how many total credit cards, not just Chase credit cards, that you’ve opened in the past 24 months. Generally, your application for certain Chase credit cards will not be approved if you’ve already opened 5 (or more) credit card accounts in the last 24 months.
The only reason to hold a credit card with a $450 annual fee is if you receive value from the card that exceeds $450. This logic applies to any credit card that charges an annual fee. For example, if you travel frequently with a certain airline and pay $600 for a membership to access their affiliated lounges, having a credit card that includes lounge membership but charges an annual fee of only $450 makes economic sense.
The best card for your large business depends on the spending habits of your business, the specific features or benefits of the card that you will actually utilize, and whether you can redeem the rewards for something of value.
Your greatest business expenses should align with the spending bonus categories on the card and spending limits on those categories. If your business spends $60,000 a year on offices supplies, for example, you wouldn’t select a card that limits that bonus category to a maximum of $25,000.
If you have a lot of employees, additional free employee credit cards would be an important feature to look for in a card. If your business requires you to travel frequently, you’ll want a card that rewards travel expenses and allows you to redeem your rewards for travel.
Features and benefits that are important to a small business vary greatly. However, if you’re trying to keep costs to a minimum, you might select a rewards-earning business card with no annual fee such as the Ink Business Cash card.
Consider a card that matches the spending habits of your business with bonus spending categories on the credit card for maximum rewards earning. If you’re a road warrior, for example, you might select a card that rewards purchases at gas stations and hotels.
Selecting a card with a 0% APR period for purchases and balance transfers may also be an option to help with your small business cash flow.
Reviewing the benefits of each card you’re considering and asking yourself whether it adds value to your business can help you select the perfect card.
The short answer is yes; you do not need good to excellent credit to get approved for a credit card. But the best credit cards may require good to excellent credit. Before you apply for a credit card, you should know your credit score, which you can find by accessing sites such as Credit Karma.
You can also visit CardMatch and input your information to view credit card offers that have already been matched specifically to you.
The best personal credit cards for good to excellent credit are the Amex Platinum card, Capital One Venture X card, Amex Gold card, Citi Premier card, Chase Sapphire Reserve card, and Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
The best business cards for good to excellent credit are the Amex Business Platinum card, Amex Business Gold card, Ink Business Preferred card, Ink Business Unlimited card, and Ink Business Cash card.
Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
2 comments
David
May 24, 2018
Very helpful article. Thanks for sharing.
Michael McHugh
May 24, 2018
Thank you for reading and letting us know David.
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