The 2025 Yahoo Finance Awards: Best credit cards

Yahoo

09-07-2025

At Yahoo Finance, we spend a lot of time comparing credit cards and all the ways they can save you money. We also know there is no single card that's best for everyone's wallet. Credit cards can serve different purposes for different people, which is why it's important to fit any new card to your specific financial goals.
But there are some credit cards we consider exceptional for what they offer cardholders today. Each year, we determine the top credit cards across a range of categories — travel, balance transfer, secured, business, and more — to help you determine which cards may be best for your wallet. Learn more about the methodologies used to choose our winners.
These are our picks for the best credit cards available right now:
Sorted by category, these are the top credit cards we recommend today. You can read more about our card ratings and the methodologies we use at the bottom of each category page linked below.
As a cash-back credit card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited has some of the best flexibility you'll find for earning and redeeming rewards. Not only can you earn up to 5% back in everyday bonus categories, but you're guaranteed a minimum 1.5% cash back on all non-bonus purchases. When you're ready to redeem, you can get cash back or use your rewards to book travel through Chase Travel℠.
Based on average American spending data, we put the Chase Freedom Unlimited card's estimated annual earnings at $482.15 — a solid annual gain for a no annual fee card. As a new cardholder, you'll get even more throughout the first year with a great welcome bonus and 0% APR offer.You won't find a simpler way to maximize spending toward travel than with a Capital One Venture credit card. No matter where you spend, you'll get 2x miles on every purchase. Then, you can use the miles you earn for future travel expenses: reimburse travel expenses on your card, book travel through Capital One Travel, or transfer miles to Capital One's 15+ travel partners.
The Capital One Venture card does have an annual fee, but it also comes with a great welcome offer and some annual benefits that can help add more value beyond rewards.The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is our rewards card pick for the best of both worlds between everyday and travel rewards. You'll earn great rewards on travel expenses and on regular spending like dining, online groceries, and select streaming services. And to help make up the card's annual fee, there are a few annual benefits (including a $50 annual credit for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel).
Once you've earned your rewards, you can really increase your value with redemptions. One of the best ways to redeem your Chase Sapphire Preferred points is by using them to book travel through Chase Travel. You'll get a 25% boost, so each point is worth 1.25 cents toward hotels, airfare, rental cars, and more. You can also transfer your points to Chase's hotel and airline partners.You can use the Blue Cash Everyday Card from Amex to save money with no interest on new purchases and eligible balance transfers for the first 15 months after account opening. After that, there's an 18.24%-29.24% ongoing variable APR (see rates & fees).
Even after the intro APR offer expires, you'll still earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1%. You'll even get 3% back with U.S. online retailers (also up to $6,000, then 1%) — this relatively uncommon credit card rewards category, may cover a significant amount of your regular spending on sites like Amazon and Target or larger one-off purchases with retailers like Wayfair or Ebay.The Citi Double Cash Card has one of the best 0% APR balance transfer offers available today, as well as long-term cash rewards. When you transfer your existing balance within four months, you'll pay 0% APR for the first 18 months after account opening with a balance transfer fee of 3% (minimum $5). When the intro period ends, your ongoing APR will be a variable 18.24%-28.24%.
Not only can you use this no annual fee card to pay down debt, but you can continue to benefit from its cash-back rewards after your balances are paid. Earn 2% cash back on every purchase you make — with 1% cash back when you buy and another 1% as you pay. With that cash back structure, you'll get rewarded as you pay down your balances and remain debt-free.As you build credit for the first time as a student, you can earn rewards and set yourself up with a strong credit history using Discover it Student Cash Back. The card has rotating bonus rewards, so you'll earn 5% cash back in categories that change quarterly. These can range from grocery stores and streaming services to individual retailers like Walmart or Amazon. The 5% cash back applies to the first $1,500 you spend in bonus categories each quarter; after that you'll earn 1% on all purchases.
There's no annual fee to own the Discover it Student Cash Back card, and you'll build credit as you use your card over time. Discover reports your payments to each of the three credit bureaus every month, so by practicing good habits like paying on time and not spending too close to your credit limit, you can establish a solid credit history and increase your score. And don't forget to pay your balances in full each month to avoid high interest charges.Secured credit cards are one of the best options for people with bad credit or no credit history to build a solid score, and they can also be rewarding. The Capital One Quicksilver Secured card offers an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make.
Even without rewards, this card is a great secured option for building credit. You will need to submit a security deposit of at least $200 (which acts as your credit limit) when you open your Capital One Quicksilver Secured. But with responsible use, you can qualify for both an increased credit limit with no additional deposit and to upgrade to an unsecured version of the card and get your deposit back. All the while, Capital One reports your payments to the three credit bureaus so you can build your credit history with on-time monthly payments.The Ink Business Cash from Chase can add a ton of potential value to the purchases you make for your small business, as long as your regular expenses fall within its everyday bonus categories. Eligible purchases range from spending at office supply stores and gas stations to utility bills for internet, cable, and phone services and dining at restaurants.
You can use your Ink Business Cash card to get cash back on your expenses or, if you travel for business occasionally, you can use your rewards to book travel through Chase Travel. There are also some added benefits you can use as your business grows, like spending insights, the ability to add employee cards for no additional cost, and an automatic review for a higher credit line every six months.The New United Explorer Card is a versatile airline card option that you can use to earn miles toward future flights and get added perks when you fly. Not only will you earn significant miles on United purchases, but you'll also earn on hotel stays and when you dine out at home or while traveling.
For travelers who prefer United Airlines, the United Explorer Card's benefits may be its best feature. You'll get your first checked bag free (for you and one companion on the same reservation) on each flight and two one-time passes to the United Club each year. Even if you only fly once in a calendar year, taking advantage of these two benefits could be worth up to $260 in value. You'll also get priority boarding on United flights, 25% back on select in-flight purchases, and more.Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank's website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.