WSJ Buyside's Top Credit Card Picks

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Our rating:4.8

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Recommended credit

670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

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Rewards rate

5X: Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
5X: Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

Intro offer: Earn 80,000 points Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Annual fee: $695

Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

See if you’re pre-approved for this card using our CardMatch tool.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.8

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 5.0
Annual Percentage Rate:: 4.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 4.0
Features:: 5.0
Issuer Customer Experience:: 5.0

Highlights

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $695
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our rating:4.9

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Recommended credit

670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Apply now

Rewards rate

5x: 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
3x: 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
2x: 2x on all other travel purchases.
1x: 1x on all other purchases.

Intro offer: 60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Annual fee: $95

Regular APR: 21.49% - 28.49% variable

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.9

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 4.8
Annual Percentage Rate:: 1.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 5.0
Features:: 3.0
Issuer Customer Experience:: 4.0

Highlights

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
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, 2024.
Member FDIC

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $95
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Our rating:4.1

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Add to compare

Recommended credit

670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Apply now

Rewards rate

2%: Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Intro offer: $200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual fee: $0

Regular APR: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.1

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 4.0
APR:: 1.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 4.7
Features:: 3.0
Issuer Customer Experience: 2.0

Highlights

Select "Apply Now" to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
$0 annual fee.
No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $0
Intro Purchase APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
Regular APR: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Intro Balance Transfers APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Our rating:4.9

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Rewards rate

5 Miles: 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2 Miles: 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

Intro offer: Earn 75,000 miles Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel

Annual fee: $95

Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.99% variable

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.9

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 4.3
Annual Percentage Rate:: 4.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 5.0
Features:: 3.0
Issuer Customer Experience:: 4.0

Highlights

Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
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
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $95
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Our rating:2.3

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Rewards rate

4%: 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter
3%: 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
2%: 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
1%: 1% cash back on all other purchases

Intro offer: No current offer

Annual fee: $0

Regular APR: 20.49% variable

Recommended credit: 740-850 (Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:2.3

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 2.6
Annual Percentage Rate:: 3.6
Rewards Flexibility:: 2.3
Features:: 3.0
Issuer Customer Experience: 3.0

Highlights

Discover one of Citi’s best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter
3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
1% cash back on all other purchases
No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $0
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 20.49% (Variable)
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

WSJ Buyside’s Top Credit Card Picks

How we Choose

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Rewards rate

Overall rating

Highlights

Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rewards rate

Overall rating

Highlights

Rates & Fees

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Rewards rate

Overall rating

Highlights

Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Rewards rate

Overall rating

Highlights

Rates & Fees

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Rewards rate

Overall rating

Highlights

Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Rewards rate

At A Glance

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Rewards rate

At A Glance