The 5 Best First Credit Cards For Beginners [December 2024]
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Top Picks (Quick Summary)
Card | Welcome Offer and Annual Fee | Benefits |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® |
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| American Express® Gold Card |
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| Chase Freedom Unlimited® |
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| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express |
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1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Best Overall Value)
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Why We Like This Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on 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 & Cons
- 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
- 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
- 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
- $95 annual fee
- No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Card Highlights
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. 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, 2027.
- Member FDIC
- APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Benefits for the Beginner
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a great vehicle to start accumulating Chase Ultimate Rewards points, some of the most valuable rewards points you can earn.
- You’ll also receive a generous welcome bonus after meeting initial spending requirements.
How You Earn Rewards
- 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
- 3x points per $1 on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
- 2x points per $1 on all other travel worldwide
- Shop through Chase for bonus points on your purchase
How You Redeem Rewards
- You can redeem Ultimate Rewards points for travel via the Chase Travel portal or transfer points to airline and hotel partners. You can also redeem points to shop on Amazon to purchase gift cards.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has long been the standard as one of the best starter credit cards because Chase Ultimate Rewards points are flexible travel rewards that have tremendous value.
2. American Express® Gold Card (Best for Earning Lots of Points)
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThis is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Apply With Confidence
Know if you're approved with no credit score impact
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Why We Like This Card
The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.
There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.
Pros & Cons
- 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
- 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
- 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
- $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
- No lounge access
Card Highlights
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $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. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. 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, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Don’t be deterred by the annual fee on the Amex Gold card as the earning potential far outweighs the cost.
The card earns big at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants — 2 categories in which you’re probably already spending. Plus, it doubles as a travel rewards card earning big on airline tickets and at Amex Travel.
Benefits for Beginners
- You’ll be rewarded for purchases you’re already making on a daily basis
- With 4x earnings at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per year, and restaurants, up to $50,000 per year, you’ll earn rewards quickly
- Up to $120 annual dining credit (up to $10 monthly statement credit) at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment is required.
- The card serves as a solid everyday spending card and a travel rewards card
- Membership Rewards points are some of the most valuable rewards you can earn
How You Earn Rewards
- 4x points at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., up to $50,000 per year
- 4x points at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per year
- 3x points on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
- 1x point on all other purchases
How You Redeem Rewards
- Membership Rewards Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, merchandise, or entertainment.
- The best value per point can be realized when transferring points to select airline or hotel partners.
3. Chase Freedom Unlimited® (No Annual Fee, LOW Intro APR)
This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!
Why We Like This Card
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.
When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.
Pros & Cons
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.49%.
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
- 3% foreign transaction fee
Card Highlights
- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.49%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
- APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.49%.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Benefits for the Beginner
- The Freedom Unlimited card has a great rewards-earning and redemption structure that is easy to navigate. Plus, it’s a good starter card that can partner with premium Chase credit cards (cards that carry an annual fee) for greater redemption value.
How You Earn Rewards
- 5% cash-back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 3% cash-back on dining and drugstore purchases
- 1.5% cash-back on all other purchases
How You Redeem Rewards
- Rewards are earned in the form of Ultimate Rewards points that can be turned into cash, redeemed on Amazon for gift cards, or for travel at the rate of 1 cent per point.
The Ultimate Rewards points you earn on the Freedom Unlimited card increase in value when transferred to a premium Chase card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, because they can be redeemed for up to 50% more towards travel or transferred to airline or hotel partners.
If you’re not a frequent traveler (the card does charge a foreign transaction fee) and want a rewards-earning credit card with simple earning and redemption, the Freedom Unlimited card may be a fit as the best starter card for you.
Bottom line: The Freedom Unlimited card is great for earning valuable Ultimate Rewards Points on every purchase, and this is why it makes our list of recommended starter cards. When it comes time for redemption, however, you’ll want to partner the card with a Chase premium credit card to receive as much as 50% more value.
4. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThis cash-back card offers a capped 3% at U.S. supermarkets, 3% at U.S. gas stations, and 3% on U.S. online retail purchases!
Apply With Confidence
Know if you're approved with no credit score impact
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Why We Like This Card
When it comes to cash-back credit cards, there are dozens of options to choose from. So what sets the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express apart from the rest?
This card is excellent at earning cash-back on your everyday purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. online retail purchases. So if you regularly spend money on everyday purchases, this could be the perfect card to add to your wallet.
Pros & Cons
- 3% back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
- 3% back on purchases at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
- 3% back on purchases on online retail purchases on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
- Rewards are not flexible and can only be redeemed for cash-back. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Card Highlights
- Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- No Annual Fee.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 18.24% to 29.24% variable APR.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
- 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday® Card. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- APR: 18.24%-29.24% Variable,0% on purchases for 15 months
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Are you buying from U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, or online retailers without earning rewards?
If so, that’s a lot of purchases each year not earning rewards that could help you get closer to your travel goals. The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card will change all of that because it rewards those everyday purchases with cash-back.
Benefits for Beginners
- The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card is one of the best starter cards because its everyday bonus categories for earning cash-back probably match up with purchases you’re making anyway. Plus, this card comes with additional perks and benefits.
- You’ll earn a welcome bonus statement credit after reaching minimum spending levels.
How You Earn Rewards
- 3% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year (1% after that)
- 3% cash-back at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 in purchases per year (1% after that)
- 3% cash-back at U.S. online retailers on up to $6,000 in purchases per year (1% after that)
- 1% cash-back on all other purchases
How You Redeem Rewards
- Cash-back can be redeemed for statement credits or used to purchase gift cards and merchandise.
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card does charge a foreign transaction fee, doesn’t offer bonus earnings on travel purchases, and rewards can’t be redeemed for travel, so the card is not a match for frequent travelers (rates & fees).
5. Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Why We Like This Card
Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.
But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?
Pros & Cons
- No annual fee (rates & fees)
- No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
- Ability to use transfer partners
- Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
- No luxury travel or elite benefits
Card Highlights
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- 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
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.49% - 29.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- APR: 19.49% - 29.49% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Benefits for Beginners
- The Capital One VentureOne card is a solid no-annual-fee starter credit card for the traveler because it has no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
- Simple to earn and easy to redeem, cardholders don’t have to keep track of special bonus categories or quarterly promotions.
How You Earn Rewards
- Earn 1.25 miles for each dollar spent on the card, every day, on every purchase you make. It’s a simple but consistent earning plan.
How You Redeem Rewards
- Capital One miles can be redeemed for statement credits on travel purchases. Find the best deal on any airline or at any hotel and charge it with your Capital One VentureOne card. VentureOne customers can redeem their miles for any recent, travel-related purchase (such as vacation rentals, flights with any airline, hotels, rental cars, cruises, etc.)
- You can also use your miles to purchase travel with Capital One Travel.
The Capital One VentureOne card is a good choice if you want simple earnings, can use the no-interest period, and you like to travel — find out more about its perks and benefits.