Best credit cards for everyday spending in January 2025

Anyone with a busy lifestyle looking for a solid card that earns rewards on every purchase without the hassle of tracking bonus categories. Beginner and experienced travelers, newcomers to points and miles and seasoned pros alike will appreciate the multiple redemption options available with Capital One Venture miles. 

“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 a TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee reimbursement.” – Madison Blancaflor, senior editor

If you’re looking for more perks, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card includes $300 in annual credits for bookings through Capital One Travel and a Priority Pass lounge membership. These additional benefits help offset the higher annual fee.

Points and miles beginners and travel rewards experts will enjoy the perks of the Chase Freedom Unlimited, which provides substantial value as a card for everyday purchases with valuable cash-back returns that can be converted into Ultimate Rewards points. 

“The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great option, especially for anyone with a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. It has solid bonus categories but also gives 1.5% back on all other purchases. And, if you have a higher-end Chase card, you can effectively convert these cash-back earnings into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points.” — Nick Ewen, Director of Content

Those seeking a travel rewards card with no annual fee should consider the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card. It earns 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel in addition to 1.25 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases. The VentureOne Rewards also has no foreign transaction fees making it an ideal travel companion, especially for starters (see rates and fees).

The Capital One Savor is a good fit for anyone who regularly spends on dining and entertainment, offering 3% cash back in these two categories plus 3% cash back on streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, and 1% on all other purchases. If those categories align with your regular spending habits, it makes sense to opt for this card as your go-to for everyday purchases. 

If you’re looking to maximize earning cash back and often spend on dining, groceries and entertainment, the Capital One Savor should be in strong consideration for everyday purchases. While spending outside of its bonus categories isn’t as lucrative, it pays off to have this card for making purchases in the areas with high rewards.

If you want to stick with Capital One but are looking for a card that offers solid reward rates on all purchases and some travel perks, consider the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Those who are looking to earn rewards on everyday spending without having to keep track of bonus categories will enjoy the Blue Business Plus’ straightforward rate of 2 points per dollar on up to $50,000 spent annually (then 1 point per dollar). Anyone who already has Amex cards in their wallet will want to opt for the Blue Business Plus, as it earns American Express Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to several loyalty program partners. 

“There are very few no-annual-fee cards that award fully transferable points, but the Amex Blue Business Plus is one of them. Not only that, you'll earn 2 Membership Rewards points for every dollar you spend (on up to $50,000 each year). That's a fantastic return of 4% back based on TPG's valuations, making this a great option for your small-business needs.” – Nick Ewen, director of content

If you prefer a Capital One card for everyday spending and may exceed the Blue Business Plus card’s annual spending cap, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business (see rates and fees) earns 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, like the Blue Business Plus, but it carries a $95 annual fee ($0 intro for the first year) and doesn’t have the $50,000 cap for double earnings like the Blue Business Plus.

Anyone looking for ways to maximize their rewards on all everyday spending outside of bonus categories would benefit from the no-annual-fee Citi Double Cash Card. The 2% cash back rate (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill) is a great way to ensure you're earning rewards with every purchase, everyday.

“The Citi Double Cash Card is a simple yet valuable cash-back rewards card that I find myself frequently recommending to family and friends. It's a great everyday spending card with its 2% cash back, offered as 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. And since it has no annual fee, it's earned a long-term place in my wallet.” – Katie Genter, senior writer

If you already have a Chase Ultimate Rewards card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is worth considering. Similar to the Citi Double Cash Card but in the Chase family, the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers a generous cash-back value and has rewards that can be converted into Ultimate Rewards points.

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.

If you find yourself often spending on gas, groceries or online retailers, the Blue Cash Everyday Card’s 3% cash-back return on the first $6,000 spent each calendar year makes the card a sensible option as a card for everyday purchases. With no annual fee, it’s a strong option to maximize cash back in these categories.

Using the Blue Cash Everyday card is a great way to ensure you’re earning rewards in two categories that are necessities for so many of us — groceries and gas — with no annual fee. The simple earning structure is bolstered by the fact that Amex Reward Dollars are easy to redeem.

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a premium version of the Blue Cash Everyday Card. The Blue Cash Preferred offers higher earning rates with a similar structure for a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (then $95; see rates and fees). 

Travel rewards beginners and seasoned points and miles pros both can find value in using the Chase Sapphire Preferred for everyday purchases. The $95 annual fee is easily offset by its strong point returns, including 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase Travel℠ portal and Lyft purchases, and 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).

“The Chase Sapphire Preferred has been in my wallet for 5-plus years and is the go-to midlevel rewards credit card that I recommend to people. It usually has a pretty solid sign-up bonus, with points that can be transferred to some of my favorite loyalty programs, like British Airways Executive Club and World of Hyatt. The strong earning rate on dining and travel, as well as streaming services, makes it a good choice for a millennial like me. Finally, I like using this card when renting cars, as it provides primary car insurance and a little more peace of mind.” – Matt Moffitt, senior editor 

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the premium accompaniment to the mid-tier Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. The Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with a $550 annual fee, higher than that of the Chase Sapphire Preferred, but offers higher returns and luxurious benefits with Ultimate Rewards points that make it a good premium option as a card for everyday spending. 

The Synchrony Premier World Mastercard is for people who want simple and automatic cash back rewards across all their spending.

This card can be a great addition to your wallet if you’re looking for a simplified cash-back card to fill in the gaps of your credit card reward-earning strategy.

If you are looking for a credit card with a simple earning model, consider the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) which also offers unlimited cash back of 2% on all purchases (1% when you buy; 1% when you pay your bill). The flexible earning structure of this card makes it a solid option for maximizing rewards since it could fill gaps in your earnings strategy.

Anyone looking for an everyday spending card that doesn’t require paying attention to bonus categories and earns cash back on every purchase. The Quicksilver Cash Rewards credit card is also good for those looking for a sign-up bonus that’s easy to achieve, as you’ll earn $200 after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

The Quicksilver is a simple option for anyone looking to earn cash back without thinking too much about maximizing certain bonus categories or spending a lot to earn a welcome bonus. For everyday purchases, the card rewards those who often spend outside of typical bonus categories or aren’t looking to swap out multiple cards. 

If you’re interested in trying out bonus categories within the Capital One family, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding stores like Walmart® and Target®), which could offer more rewards on everyday spending if you find yourself making purchases in those categories. 

Business owners looking to earn cash back on everyday spending with a simple rewards structure would be pleased with this card. The Ink Business Unlimited is an excellent choice for those with other Chase cards in their wallet, as it can also add value in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Its 1.5% cash-back perk is optimal for those not interested in managing bonus categories. 

This card is great for filling in any gaps in your earning strategy thanks to its 1.5% back on all purchases. It’s also a good way to accrue transferable points you can use within Chase portals.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a similar fixed-rate card that offers 2 points per dollar on all eligible business purchases, on up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar). It also carries no annual fee (see rates and fees). 

If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, this card is an excellent option for you. Preferred Rewards members earn a 25%-75% rewards bonus on every purchase, making it a strong option for an everyday spending card. It’s also a solid option for those looking for simplicity, as you won’t have to worry about spending within bonus categories since you’ll earn a flat rate on every purchase.

Points and miles novices and experts who utilize Preferred Rewards will find value in this card’s rewards currency and simplistic structure. You can redeem points as a statement credit against big purchases that aren’t covered by points, making the card a versatile option that mimics cash-back rewards. 

If you’re looking for stronger earning rates on a cash-back card or don’t participate in Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program, consider the Citi Double Cash® Card. It earns 2% cash back on everyday purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your statement) and has a simple rewards structure with no annual fee (see rates and fees).