Latest news with #ActiveCash
Business Insider
13-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Best Credit Cards in America: Top Credit Card Offers for June 2025
I think about credit cards all the time. As a personal finance journalist, I've covered credit card rewards for a decade and have more than three dozen active cards. It's impossible to name a single credit card that would be perfect for everyone's needs. But knowing what you want from your credit card can help you find your best option. My family and friends frequently ask me, "What's the best credit card?" and "What credit card should I get?" I offer personalized recommendations based on their individual needs and wants, factoring in benefits, rewards, and financial protection they won't get from paying cash or using a debit card. I compiled this list of winners based on that research. I compared welcome offers, ongoing rewards for common expenses, benefits and protections like trip insurance and purchase protection, and reasonable annual fees (or lack thereof) across dozens of credit cards available today. These are the best credit cards you can get right now — you'll find most of them in my own wallet. Best For Card Annual Fee Best for cash rewards Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card $0 (rates and fees) Best for travelers Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card $95 (rates and fees) Best for families Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express $0 intro for the first year, then $95 (rates and fees) Best for 0% APR Chase Freedom Unlimited® $0 (rates and fees) Best for young adults Bilt Mastercard® $0 (rates and fees) Best for reward maximizers Discover it® Cash Back $0 What Is the Best Credit Card to Get? I always say there isn't a magical "best credit card" that works for every person. Many people prefer no-annual-fee credit cards because they're easy to keep long-term. Other people don't mind paying a hefty annual sum for premium credit cards with airport lounge access because the benefits of luxury and comfort are worth the cost. Some value travel rewards credit cards, while others prefer to focus on cash-back credit cards. Wherever you fall on each of these spectrums, I encourage you to hone in on what you really need for your personal situation. If you have kids, you may want to forgo airport lounges in favor of free checked bags. If you travel solo, you may want to prioritize credit cards that offer luxury benefits such as hotel elite status and shopping credits. Credit Cards for Families For parents with young children, I recommend credit cards that reward groceries, streaming services, and commuting expenses with flexible points that can be redeemed in many different ways. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express checks all of these boxes. I also suggest choosing a credit card that offers travel insurance coverage, since little kids often get sick during or right before a big trip. If you have to cancel or reschedule that expensive Disney vacation, it's always nice to recoup some of your nonrefundable expenses. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is my top choice recommendation for this benefit because it's so well-rounded on all of these fronts. Credit Cards for Young Adults Young adults in college or early in their careers often find themselves spending a lot of money on rent while dining out with friends or colleagues every night. At the same time, they often value the simplicity of loading a single credit card into Apple Pay and using it for every transaction. The Bilt Mastercard® is perfect for this life stage, with gamified rewards and bonus points on common lifestyle expenses. If you're a first-time credit card applicant or a student with minimal income, you may want to consider one of the best starter credit cards or the best student credit cards. When to Pay For Annual Fees If you're a foodie, you'll want to choose one of the best credit cards for dining, restaurants, and food in general. But if you're more of a homebody, you may want to focus on the best credit cards for buying groceries and the best credit cards for gas purchases. What to Get If Your Credit is Subpar If your credit score is lower than you'd like, you may qualify for some of the best credit cards for bad credit or seek a secured credit card, which can help you heal your credit and even earn rewards while you work toward a stronger financial future. Airline Lounge Access for Infrequent Travelers It isn't worth paying for airport lounge access via a credit card if you're an infrequent traveler. Instead, pay for a mid-tier travel credit card with a sub-$100 annual fee, and buy lounge day passes as needed. If you find yourself buying more than two lounge passes each year, it might be time to consider an upgrade. How I Chose the Best Credit Cards Choosing the best credit cards is a momentous task and a responsibility I take very seriously. I regularly evaluate dozens of credit cards available to consumers and business owners, and update this guide on a monthly basis. In addition to considering my own perspective and consulting with industry colleagues, I also read popular forums such as Reddit and FlyerTalk to see what everyday consumers are saying about different cards. I evaluated each of the cards in this guide — and screened out many others — against the following criteria: Simplicity: All of the cards on this list are easy for consumers to use and understand. While I regularly update several credit card guides for maximizing rewards and benefits, my list of top recommendations is meant to help people like my parents find an easy card to use for everyday purchases. Affordability: Most of the credit cards in this guide don't cost you any money to keep. While there's a case to be made for paying a high annual fee when you're getting high value in return, most people dislike the idea of paying money to spend money. Value: A good credit card should offer enough value to offset any annual fee several times over. When evaluating no-annual-fee cards, I focused on the ones that provide the best benefits or most generous rewards. Read Business Insider's guide to points and miles valuations to learn what your credit card rewards are worth, and learn more about how we rate credit cards. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is ideal for people who prioritize flat-rate cash rewards. Its ease of use makes it our pick for the best credit card for earning cash rewards. This card is all about simple math and cash, earning unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases across all categories. Wells Fargo Rewards can easily be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, travel, and more. New cardholders can easily earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. There's also a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months from account opening, followed by a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR. Finally, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card comes with a wide range of valuable benefits including cell phone protection for up to $600 per claim. This card does charge foreign transaction fees, so leave it at home on international trips. What I don't love: Foreign transaction fees Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card The Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is the best credit card for foodies. That's because this card earns serious rewards on food and fun: 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Capital One miles are very easy to use once you've earned them, and have an average value of 1.7 cents apiece by Business Insider's calculations of what points and miles are worth. New cardholders can earn $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases within three months from account opening, and 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (3% fee for the first 15 months, then 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time), followed by 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR. What I love: Great earning rates, no annual fee, and 0% intro APR What I don't love: Typically requires excellent credit score for approval Pro tip: If you're a student, you may want to consider the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. It has more lenient credit requirements but earns the same generous rewards. Citi Double Cash Card The Citi® Double Cash Card offers solid benefits and rewards while helping you pay off debt via a long balance transfer period, making it our top credit card for paying down debt. New cardholders can benefit from a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR. Cardholders who want to make a balance transfer must pay the following balance transfer fee: 3% intro fee of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first four months of account opening, then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum). But this expense is significantly lower than the credit card interest you'd pay elsewhere. The Citi® Double Cash Card earns unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase (1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases) and 5% cash back on hotel and car rentals booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25. This rate is generous for a card with no annual fee that offers such a long period with no interest, and makes the Citi® Double Cash Card worth keeping in your wallet long after your zero-interest offer expires. New cardholders can also earn $200 cash back, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is best for travelers for several reasons. One of those factors is complimentary travel insurance with generous coverage terms, especially for its low annual fee of $95. Travel insurance benefits help you recoup non-refundable expenses when things go awry, and this coverage is particularly beneficial for families who may need to cancel or postpone travel at the last minute for illness or bad weather. Cardholders also get primary car rental insurance, trip delay insurance, and baggage delay insurance. Finally, cardholders earn 5 points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2 points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point on all other purchases. They also get a 10% anniversary points bonus, and up to $50 a year in statement credits for hotels booked through Chase. What I don't love: Annual fee Pro tip: Right now, new cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This offer is worth $1,080, according to Business Insider's valuations. Blue Cash Preferred ® Card The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a fantastic household credit card for families who spend money on groceries, commutes, and streaming services. This card earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% cash back on other purchases (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at checkout). Terms apply. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95 (rates and fees). If you max out the cash back bonus at U.S. supermarkets spending $6,000 each year, that's $360 of cash in your pocket — significantly more than the annual fee you'll start paying in Year 2. What I love: Generous rewards for gas, transit, groceries, and streaming expenses What I don't love: Annual fee after the first year (rates and fees) Pro tip: If you like everything about this card except its yearly cost, consider its sibling, the no-annual-fee Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. This card earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, at U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per category per year, then 1%) and 1% cash back on other purchases (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at checkout). The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is our pick for the best credit card for an intro APRO because it offers a generous 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then 18.99% - 28.49% Variable APR. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® also earns great rewards, especially for a no-annual-fee credit card: 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 1.5% on all other purchases. New cardholders can earn a generous welcome bonus on this card: $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This card charges foreign transaction fees, so make sure you leave this card in your wallet when you pack your passport or shop online from a non-U.S. business. What I love: Great earning rates, no annual fee, and initial zero-interest period What I don't love: Foreign transaction fees Pro tip: While this is technically a cash-back credit card, it earns those rewards in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. I can transfer points from my Chase Freedom Unlimited® to a Chase credit card that earns travel rewards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, to book business-class award flights through Chase transfer partners or through the Chase Travel℠ portal. Chase points are some of the most valuable credit card rewards you can earn, worth an average of 1.8 cents apiece by Business Insider's valuations. Bilt Mastercard® The Bilt Mastercard® is a one-size-fits-all credit card for young adults because it earns bonus points on restaurant and travel purchases. Young adults can even earn up to 100,000 Bilt Points per calendar year on rent by paying rent with this credit card without incurring any transaction fees. Bilt Points are extremely flexible and can be used to pay rent, book travel, or redeemed for merch or statement credits. Even non-renters earn great rewards with the Bilt Mastercard®. For instance, I got this card because I can earn 3 points per dollar on dining, 2 points on travel, and 1 point on other purchases. You won't earn points unless you make at least five purchases each billing cycle, but this card makes it very easy to maximize your everyday purchases. Cardholders earn double points on the first day of every month, affectionately known as " Bilt Rent Day", on up to 1,000 points. The Bilt Mastercard® also comes with generous benefits including primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance that goes into effect after just six hours, cell phone protection of up to $800 per claim which is subject to a $25 deductible, and no foreign transaction fees (rates and fees). All of these benefits add up to make the Bilt Mastercard® a perfect travel companion for adventurous young adults who are ready to see the world but aren't prepared to pay an annual fee for a credit card. What I love: Double point days, the ability to pay rent with a credit card, and generous dining rewards with no annual fee (rates and fees) Pro tip: You don't have to be a Bilt cardholder to earn Bilt Points. Simply link any credit card to the Bilt app wallet to earn points on all eligible dining purchases. The Discover it® Cash Back makes earning extra fun, when you enroll in the quarterly 5% bonuses that change every three months with up to $1,500 in combined category spending. Cardholders can earn 5% cash back on purchases from rotating categories each quarter up to $1,500 when you activate and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases (from April 1 to June 30, 2025, earn 5% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%). I use Business Insider's Discover cash back calendar to help me remember each quarter's categories. This card doesn't earn a traditional welcome bonus, but Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of new card members' first year through the Discover it Cashback Match program. This means you'll have your rewards earnings matched at the end of Year 1 of card ownership. This card offers new cardholders a generous zero-interest offer on new purchases and existing debt: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR APR. While some cards offer longer 0% APR periods, few do so while still earning rewards as generous as the Discover it® Cash Back. Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Priority Credit Card Southwest is one of the most popular airlines for U.S. travelers, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card gives frequent flyers a serious leg up on benefits. This credit card is Southwest's premium consumer card and comes with a $149 annual fee. But cardholders get an annual credit of $75 toward Southwest flights, which effectively halves the out-of-pocket cost of the annual fee. After 50-odd years of proudly proclaiming no bag fees, Southwest Airlines began charging for checked bags in late May 2025. But cardholders and travelers with elite status will still be able to check at least one free bag per flight. Southwest will also begin charging for seat assignments in late 2025. While we don't yet know many details about this momentous change, cardholders will likely get exclusive benefits that everyday travelers do not. If nothing else, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Cardholders will earn 3 points per dollar when paying for preferred seating. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card won't do you any good if you don't fly Southwest, of course. But if you do, this card can help you fast-track your way to elite status and the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, especially if you time your welcome offer just right. What I love: $75 annual statement credit toward Southwest travel, free checked bag Capital One Venture X The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the most affordable premium credit card with complimentary access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass airport lounges. The $395 annual fee may shock you, but the Capital One Venture X actually offers lounge access at a far lower cost than its competitors. Authorized users under your account also get complimentary memberships to all Capital One lounges — an unprecedented generosity you won't see from any other high-end credit card including the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express. Cardholders get an annual travel credit of up to $300 on travel booked through the Capital One travel portal, and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary worth at least $100 toward travel. New customers can also earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Rewards are very easy to calculate: 10 miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles on all other purchases. They're also very easy to redeem. FAQs The Chase Freedom Unlimited®, the Bilt Mastercard® (rates and fees), and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are three of the top credit cards you can get right now. Each card earns generous rewards on everyday expenses like food and travel. The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Citi® Double Cash Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
CNBC
29-04-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Wells Fargo Active Cash vs. Wells Fargo Reflect: Do you want rewards or an intro APR?
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and Wells Fargo Reflect® Card can both save you money — but in different ways. Which one is right for you depends on whether you prefer a longer intro-APR period or rewards. In other words, would you rather avoid interest (for a time) or earn cash back? Below, CNBC Select dives into the details of what each credit card offer, so you make the best choice for you. None None $0 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% variable APR 5%, min: $5 3% Excellent/Good See rates and fees, terms apply. Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months $0 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR Intro balance transfer fee of 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5 3% Excellent/Good See rates and fees, terms apply. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and Wells Fargo Reflect® Card both have no annual fee. Winner: Tie With the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, you can earn $200 in cash rewards after you spend $500 in purchases within the first three months. You'll also receive an intro APR period for purchases and qualifying balance transfers that last 12 months. The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has no welcome bonus, but you'll receive a longer intro APR offer, lasting 21 months. That makes the card more useful if you have lots of high-interest credit card debt. However, the Active Cash provides the opportunity to earn an upfront cash bonus and has a lower intro-balance transfer fee. Winner: Wells Fargo Active Cash The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a flat-rate 2% cash-back credit card. The Active Cash earns 2% in cash rewards on every purchase, which you can redeem for gift cards, statement credits, direct deposits (into eligible Wells Fargo accounts) and more. The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card doesn't earn rewards. Winner: Wells Fargo Active Cash The Wells Fargo Reflect® and Wells Fargo Active Cash® both provide some basic protections, including: The cell phone coverage can be valuable because you can be reimbursed up to $600 per claim for up to two claims every 12 months (a $25 deductible applies). However, the rental car insurance is secondary, so it only covers what your other insurance doesn't. The Active Cash Card also has travel and emergency assistance services and provides access to the Visa Signature Concierge and Luxury Hotel Collection. Winner: Wells Fargo Active Cash Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability. Good to Excellent670–850Earn 100,000 bonus points On Chase's site See rates and fees. Terms apply. Good to Excellent670–850Earn $250 cash back On Chase's site See rates and fees. Terms apply. Overall, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a better credit card for most people. It has a straightforward and rewarding cash-back program. Plus, you'll get an intro-APR offer, which means you can save money in multiple ways with the Active Cash Card. The Wells Fargo Reflect® does one thing and it does it exceptionally well—reduce your interest payments. If you're working your way out of credit card debt or need to finance a purchase, the Reflect card can be a better choice. Just be sure to consider this card's higher balance transfer fee when you're running the numbers. Many rewards cards require you to have a good to excellent credit score to qualify. That makes higher-tier rewards cards an unlikely option for anyone with poor credit or no credit history. If you have trouble paying your bills on time, a card with a 0% APR period might tempt you to spend more than you can handle. Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here. At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
