Credit Card Reviews of 2023

Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

A credit card is one of life’s most powerful tools. Responsible use can result in a good credit score which opens the door to auto loans, mortgages, and even favorable health insurance. Some of the most important things in life are made possible thanks to credit cards.

You can choose from dozens of the best credit cards. Whether you’re after cash back, free hotel stays, super cheap airfare, a tool to help grow your small business, or even if you’ve got poor/no credit and would like to improve your credit score, there’s a card for you.

Insider’s ultimate credit card reviews guide will help you find the exact product you’re looking for.

Best Cash Back Credit Cards

In terms of flexibility, cash back is the king of credit card rewards. Many cash back credit cards give you the option to redeem your rewards as either cash, a statement credit, or a transfer to your bank account. Occasionally you’ll be subject to a minimum redemption amount, but that’s the only potential stumbling block you’ll likely encounter.

Flat-rate cash-back cards, like the best 2% cash back credit cards, are suited to those who don’t want to keep track of multiple bonus categories and just want a simple earning structure. But choosing a card that earns maximum cash back in bonus categories where you spend a lot — like groceries, dining, or gas — can make a huge difference in your rate of return.

Best cash back credit cards

This table reflects our current picks from the best cash-back credit cards guide.

Other cash back credit cards

Best Airline Credit Cards

If you want to use travel rewards to save money on flights, an airline credit card is a must. You can choose between credit cards that earn airline miles, or cards that earn more flexible rewards points that you can transfer to various frequent flyer programs.

Airline cards also often come with valuable ongoing benefits like a free checked bag, priority boarding, or even airport lounge access. And it’s not uncommon to find increased welcome bonuses worth well over $1,000 in travel.

Best airline credit cards

This table reflects our current picks from the best airline credit cards guide.

Other airline credit cards

Best Travel Credit Cards

While it takes more effort to redeem points or miles compared to cash back, the upside is that you can get much more value for your points compared to simply cashing in your rewards for a statement credit or check at a rate of 1 cent per point. 

In fact, it’s possible to receive double, triple, or even more than that amount when you’re strategic about how you redeem your rewards for travel, particularly if you book expensive luxury hotels or first-class flights.

While in most cases you’ll pay an annual fee for travel cards, there are some no-annual-fee travel credit cards that come with strong earning rates and benefits that can improve your travel experience.

Best travel credit cards

This table reflects our current picks from the best travel rewards credit cards guide.

Other travel credit cards

Best Hotel Credit Cards

If you’re thinking about opening a hotel credit card, the first step is to analyze your travel goals.

Are you a road-tripper who wants to book cheap hotels along the highway? Do you mostly use small-town hotels during trips to grandma’s for Thanksgiving? Do you want a five-star vacation in the Maldives?

It’s also important to consider the credit card’s sign-up bonus, recurring benefits, ease of earning free nights via credit card spending, category bonuses, and elite status perks (if any).

The best hotel credit cards offer a free night after each account anniversary or for meeting spending thresholds. These nights can be worth much more than the cards’ annual fees, and make them worth keeping year after year.

Best hotel credit cards

This table reflects our current picks from the best hotel credit cards guide.

Other hotel credit cards

Best Small Business Credit Cards

You’d be surprised at what qualifies you for a small business credit card. Small businesses aren’t always multi-million dollar operations — whether you’re a freelancer, a Lyft driver, an Instacart shopper, or have any other side hustle, you could qualify for a small business credit card. Whether you want a small-business card that earns cash back, a general rewards business card, or a business card with no annual fee, there are plenty of options to choose from.

If you’ve got a sizable business, keeping your personal and business finances separate is vital. Things can get murky quickly when you’re cutting personal and business checks from the same account — a business credit card will not only help separate expenses, but also help you establish business credit, so that you have flexibility later on with loans and leases.

Best small business credit cards

This table reflects our current picks from the best small business credit cards guide.

Other small business credit cards

Best Credit Cards for Building Credit

Having a low credit score makes it harder to get approved for a new credit card and other types of loans, and it means that when you do get approved for, say, a mortgage, you’ll generally get less-favorable terms like the highest variable interest rates. A bad credit score is defined as anything below 580, according to the FICO scoring model.

It may seem counterintuitive, but opening and using a credit card responsibly is one of the best ways to build your credit history and score. If you’re starting from scratch or need to rebuild from some credit mishaps in the past, consider one of the best secured credit cards as a stepping stone to more rewarding cards in the future.

Best credit cards for limited/no credit

This table reflects our current picks from the best credit cards for bad credit guide.

Other credit cards for limited/no credit

Best Zero Interest Credit Cards

Credit card interest fees can be absolutely crippling if you dig yourself into a hole of debt. Some credit cards incur over 30% APR — meaning you could pay thousands of dollars in interest in a single year by neglecting to pay off your card balances each month.

If you’re paying interest on your credit card — or if you anticipate a large expense that’ll take several months to pay off (medical bills, emergency car maintenance, etc.), a zero-interest credit card with an introductory 0% APR is just what you need. Some cards give you many months to pay off new purchases before any interest accrues. Others allow you to transfer a balance from your high-interest credit card while giving you an equally generous 0% interest window.

Best 0% APR credit cards

This table reflects some of our current picks from the best 0% APR credit cards guide.

Other credit cards for 0% intro APR

Best Student Credit Cards

Applying for your first credit card is an exciting milestone regardless of age, but young adults can find it hard to get approved with limited income and credit history. Some parents add their children as credit card authorized users while they’re still minors to get a head start on building credit, but this strategy isn’t a good fit for everyone.

If you’re a student without established credit, there are still plenty of credit cards that you can qualify for. Then, once you’ve improved your credit score by using a credit card responsibly, it can be easier to upgrade to more lucrative rewards credit cards.

Best student credit cards

This table reflects our current picks from the best student credit cards guide.