Best credit cards of December 2025

This card is a great fit for someone who wants to dip their toes into the world of premium credit cards without paying over $400 a year in annual fees. It provides a healthy collection of perks and rewarding everyday earning rates.

“The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the card that rewards me for every purchase I make with 2 miles per dollar spent that I can then use toward my travel goals. I also love how easy it is to earn and redeem my miles either through transferring to partners or covering travel purchases, big or small.” — Ashley Onadele, writer

Those turned off by the Venture X’s annual fee could opt for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, which has a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees) and similar earning rates and redemption options.

Fans of Capital One who frequently book travel via Capital One Business Travel and want a card the offers no foreign transaction fees.

In addition to a solid earning structure, the Venture X Business card provides you with a $300 annual credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel in addition to 10,000 bonus miles every year on your account anniversary — starting with your first anniversary.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great option for those who want to take advantage of a solid earning structure that provides them with easy to redeem miles. The Venture Rewards card earns an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase plus an unlimited 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. You get similar benefits that come with the more premium Capital One Venture cards with a smaller annual fee of $95 (see rates and fees).

Frequent travelers and digital entertainment subscribers will enjoy travel perks like lounge access and an up to $209 Clear Plus statement credit in addition to an up to $300 digital entertainment credit (disbursed as up to $25 per month in statement credits). Enrollment may be required, and you may be subject to auto-renewal.

Adding this card to your rotation makes sense if you can use its perks and statement credits to offset its $895 annual fee.

If you want a premium travel and lifestyle card that’s not nearly $900, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. It features a $795 annual fee — which is still a big figure — but offers several similar perks and credits that offset this fee, and it earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points, one of the most valuable reward currencies on the market.

Anyone who wants a simple earning structure plus straightforward redemptions and value-added perks (like a statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry membership) could be a good candidate for the card.

“The Capital One Venture is a great card that can add value to pretty much anyone's wallet. I use it to earn 2 miles per dollar on the purchases that fall outside of my other cards' bonus categories. The annual fee is low, Capital One miles are easy to redeem and the card does come with a few nice perks — including TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry application fee reimbursement.” — Madison Blancaflor, senior editor

Even if you’re a casual traveler, consider this card’s sister product, the very popular Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. The card’s up to $300 annual credit for purchases made with Capital One Travel offsets the higher annual fee — and that’s not even considering the added perks you’ll enjoy.

Anyone with frequent restaurant and grocery purchases can get a ton of value from the Amex Gold, especially if you utilize the issuer’s array of lucrative transfer partners.

“There's no better card for groceries and dining than the Amex Gold. I earn 4 points per dollar in both of these categories, and with additional perks like monthly statement credits and the ability to transfer my Membership Rewards points to valuable airline partners, the card is a mainstay in my wallet.” — Nick Ewen, director of content

If you still want extra rewards at restaurants along with additional bonus categories and other valuable perks at a lower fee, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Business travelers who can take advantage of this card’s statement credits and would benefit from perks like lounge access and hotel elite status.

 If you’re often on the go for work trips, this Amex Business Platinum card is a solid choice. It’s packed with travel-related statement credits and benefits in addition to offering business-specific perks that are pretty straightforward to use.

If you’re in the market for a premium business card but don’t want to commit to the Amex Business Platinum, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠. Like its consumer counterpart, the Sapphire Reserve for Business earns valuable Ultimate Rewards points and also offers business-related statement credits and perks.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is best suited for travelers who can take full advantage of its elevated earning rates, statement credits and wide range of luxury benefits.

If you regularly spend on travel and lifestyle purchases, and want a premium reward card that delivers both luxury benefits and long-term value, the Sapphire Reserve is a card you should consider.

If you're looking for similar premium travel benefits but are an Amex loyalist, the American Express Platinum Card® is a strong competitor. It carries a comparable annual fee of $895 (see rates and fees) and offers extensive luxury perks, including access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection for eligible card members, complimentary Hilton and Marriott elite status (enrollment is required for select benefits), and annual statement credits across categories like airfare, hotels, ridesharing services, digital entertainment and more. Its rewards are also flexible to redeem for general travel, but are mostly focused on luxury experiences.

For those looking for a more budget-friendly entry point into travel rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular alternative — and one of our favorite beginner travel cards here at TPG. It has a much lower fee of $95, earns 3 points per dollar spent on dining, 2 points per dollar spent on travel and offers access to the same Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners. While it lacks the premium perks of the Sapphire Reserve, it still provides solid travel protections and the ability to build up a stash of valuable points over time. It’s a great starter card for those new to travel rewards or not yet ready to commit to a premium card.

Frequent diners, Citi loyalists and travelers who want American Airlines access without a full lounge membership.

If you want to earn American Airlines miles without flying, enjoy airport lounge access without a full Admirals Club membership and easily offset a high annual fee with versatile statement credits, the Citi Strata Elite deserves a spot in your wallet.

The American Express Platinum Card® offers more robust lounge access and flexible travel credits, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a more flexible annual travel credit and access to a broader range of travel partners.

The card is best suited to casual Delta flyers who may not fly often enough to earn elite status but would enjoy elitelike perks such as priority boarding and a free checked bag.

“As someone who likes flying Delta but doesn’t fly with them often enough to earn elite status, my Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex still gives me elitelike perks to help upgrade my travel experience.” — Madison Blancaflor, senior editor

If you are a regular Delta flyer interested in earning elite status, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a strong alternative. You’ll get the same elitelike benefits as with the Gold, but you’ll also get the ability to fast-track your way to Medallion status.

 The Prime Visa is a great option for Amazon Prime members who frequently shop on the site. It is also great for those who shop at grocers like Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods and will benefit from the card’s healthy cash back rates.

The Prime Visa should be in your wallet if you regularly shop at Amazon and can maximize reward earnings with shopping directly with Amazon, Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh and other retailers across other reward categories.

If you’re looking for a card that earns similar cash-back rates but don’t shop at Amazon enough to benefit from the Prime Visa’s exclusive perks, consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. This no-annual-fee card still earns 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants — including takeout and eligible delivery services — and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

This card is ideal for business owners who travel frequently, want to earn valuable rewards on both business and everyday purchases and appreciate premium benefits like travel protections, airport lounge access and no foreign transaction fees.

If you’re looking to turn business expenses into meaningful travel rewards — and want premium perks usually reserved for personal cards — the Sapphire Business Card’s strong earning power, flexible redemption options and travel-friendly benefits make it a standout choice.

If you want access to the Centurion Lounge and other top-tier travel perks, you might consider the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. While it carries a comparable annual fee at $895 (see rates and fees), it offers 5 Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com, access to thousands of lounges worldwide and 2  points per dollar on eligible purchases in select business categories (on up to $2 million per calendar year).

Credit card beginners or people who are looking for a simple credit card strategy would benefit from the simple earning scheme on the Active Cash. 

“This card offers 2% in cash rewards. When the time came to pay my daughter’s preschool tuition, I got the card. I could charge the expense on my card and get 2% back. It was a no-brainer for me!” - Eileen Sullivan, Senior UX researcher

If you are looking for a credit card with a simple earning model, consider the Citi Double Cash® Card which also offers unlimited cash back of 2% on all purchases (1% when you buy; 1% when you pay your bill). This card is a great way to fill in the gaps in your earning strategy so you can maximize your earned rewards across the board. 

This card is best suited for business owners with thousands of dollars in chargeable expenses since it does have an annual fee of $150. To recoup that cost in rewards, you’ll need to charge at least $7,500 throughout the year on the card.

You can earn unlimited cash back on business expenses, which means you’ll never have to worry about juggling different bonus categories to maximize its value.

If your business wants to earn 2% cash back but doesn’t charge more than $50,000 per year, then The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is a great option to consider because it does not have an annual fee (see rates and fees), though the rewards-earning power drops to 1% per year after the $50,000 threshold has been passed.

Business owners who want to earn a transferable currency will love Capital One miles, which have grown in value and redemption options over the past few years. You’ll also enjoy a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit (up to $120) and the flexibility to use your miles to cover travel expenses at a fixed value of 1 cent apiece. If you’re looking for a card that earns valuable miles without needing to track bonus categories, this is it.

You’ll earn transferable points on every purchase without worrying about bonus categories, all for a low annual fee.

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has the same $95 annual fee but earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points instead of Capital One miles. You’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel, shipping, select advertising purchases and internet, cable and phone services (on up to $150,000 in annual combined purchases, then 1 point per dollar); you’ll earn 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

The information for the Ink Business Preferred has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. 

The VentureOne is a strong card to have in your arsenal and great if you are budgeting. After all, there aren’t many no-annual-fee cards with the ability to transfer points and miles directly to travel partners, so it’s a big bonus that this card offers that.

“I wanted a credit card that earns Capital One miles without an annual fee, and this is a winner. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of some other cards, but I’m happy earning 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases without paying a fee to keep this card year after year. I’ll never cancel this card.” — Ryan Smith, former credit cards writer

For a small annual fee, many travelers could benefit from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. You’ll earn at least 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and receive a statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry membership.

Freelancers, as well as established and small businesses that are just getting started, should consider the Ink Business Unlimited. The flat rate cash back is a solid perk that rewards businesses on all purchases while not having to worry about tracking bonus earning categories.

"I have the Chase Ink Business trilogy — the Ink Business Cash, Ink Preferred and Ink Unlimited cards. The first two cards maximize my points-earning on things like office supply, internet and phone purchases, whilst the Ink Unlimited covers everything else, with a flat 1.5% earn rate. The fact that I have the Ink Preferred means I can convert my cash-back from the Ink Unlimited into more valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. This no-annual-fee card will stay in my wallet for years to come." — Matt Moffitt, managing editor

For businesses looking to earn more on their everyday purchases, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business may be a better option. This is especially true if you prefer earning miles over cash back or points since the Spark Miles for Business card earns 2 miles per dollar on all purchases.

Business owners who spend in the card’s bonus categories will love its up-to-8% return (based on TPG’s valuations). Bonus categories where you can earn up to 4 points per dollar each billing cycle (on up to $150,000 in purchases annually, then 1 point per dollar) include transit purchases; U.S. purchases for online, TV and radio advertising; monthly wireless phone service charges made directly from U.S. service providers; U.S. purchases at gas stations; U.S. purchases at restaurants; and U.S. purchases from electronic goods retailers and cloud system providers. You’ll also enjoy perks like Amex Offers.

“No other card provides the earning potential and adaptability this card has. Sure, its annual fee isn’t cheap, but I love the fact that I don’t need to think about what purchases I put on this card. It will automatically adapt and provide 4 points per dollar in my top two spending categories each billing cycle (up to $150,000 of these purchases yearly, then 1 point per dollar).” — Ryan Smith, former credit cards writer

If you’re looking for a lower annual fee or a card that earns bonus points on more purchase categories (not just your top two per month), consider the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. You’ll earn 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel, shipping, select advertising purchases and internet, cable and phone services (on up to $150,000 in annual purchases, then 1 point per dollar). Its annual fee is just $95.

The information for the Ink Business Preferred has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. 

This card is ideal for Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines flyers. However, even if you don’t fly with these airlines all the time, holding the Atmos Rewards Ascent card may still offer outsize value thanks to perks like a free checked bag on flights with these two airlines.

If you find yourself on international flights with Alaska and Hawaiian, you’ll enjoy elevated reward rates on every dollar you spend with these airlines, as well as no foreign transaction fees wherever your travels take you.

If you want a more general travel card with a similar annual fee that earns transferable points, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This card also comes with a $95 annual fee, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

New business owners who are looking to separate their business and personal expenses while earning rewards on a card with no annual fee should consider the Ink Business Cash card. 

The Ink Business Cash card offers elevated cash-back rates on regular business categories and a solid sign-up offer, all with no annual fee. When combined with a higher-end Ultimate Rewards card, the Ink Business Cash is a no-brainer for any small-business owner looking to maximize their rewards earning.

If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee business card but have varied spending habits, consider the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. That card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all spending and features a similar introductory bonus.

If you don’t want to mess with travel redemptions and airline award charts, the Blue Cash Preferred is a fantastic option with lucrative cash-back rates and a $0 introductory annual fee in the first year, then $95. Just be sure you earn enough in rewards to justify the annual fee starting in the second year.

“The Blue Cash Preferred Card is the card I recommended to my parents when they were looking for a new cash-back rewards card for their groceries. My parents prefer the simplicity of cash-back rewards and I knew they'd benefit from earning 6% cash back on up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets. Compared to the 1.5% cash back they were earning on these purchases, the elevated earnings easily justified adding the Blue Cash Preferred to their wallet.” — Katie Genter, senior writer

Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.

If you aren’t a big spender, you may not be able to justify the annual fee on the card. In that case, opt for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, which comes with slightly lower earning rates but also charges no annual fee (see rates and fees).