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Gifts, travel, decorations, meals . . . all those holiday expenses add up fast. Luckily, the right credit card can make all the difference for your holiday budget (and your holiday spirit!) so you can celebrate a stress-free season.
We’ve rounded up our top picks to help you make the most of your holiday spending, with handy features such as:
Cash back rewards. Give yourself the gift of cash back on every purchase – during the holidays and beyond.
0% APR for up to 21 months. That’s right, you can wrap up your holiday shopping with no interest charges.
Travel rewards. Make your holiday travel plans more affordable, with mileage bonuses, airport upgrades and more.
Find your new credit card from our favorites below, then let the holiday countdown begin!
Cash-Back Cards
Cash back credit cards are the gift that keeps on giving. Choose everyday rewards to earn cash back on all purchases, or choose rewards categories to earn higher cash back for certain merchants (like Amazon) and industries (like travel). Wrap that up with a bow.
Zero interest could be your secret weapon for holiday shopping and budget relief. Many cards offer a special promotional period with 0% APR for up to 21 months, so you can buy gifts for everyone on your list without worrying about interest charges.
If your holiday plans include holiday travel, it might be time to tap into a travel credit card to make the most of your mileage. Many cards offer impressive welcome bonuses, plus you’ll earn points on every purchase that you can use to cover future travel expenses – or maybe a post-holiday vacation?
Cash Back and 0% Intro APR: The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a simple and easy-to-use card with a powerful ongoing rewards rate - a great pick for just about any wallet.
Welcome Offer: One-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Rewards: 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) – it’s as simple as that.
Unlimited 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
Intro APR
0% intro on purchases for 15 months, then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable). 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months, then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Cash Back Details
No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24%-29.24% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
Cash Back and 0% Intro APR: The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is an absolute game-changer in the rewards space with the most impressive unlimited cash back rate we’ve ever seen on a no-annual-fee card.
Welcome Offer: If you’re a new cardholder, you’ll earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months from account open.
Rewards: The rewards program may look simple at first, but don’t let that fool you – if you’re a cardholder, you’ll earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. 2% unlimited is unheard-of in the world of rewards credit cards, so this card is absolutely not one to miss.
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Extra Perks
No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open
Highlights
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 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, then a 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable APR; 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
Enjoy a premium collection of benefits at a selection of the world's most intriguing and prestigious hotel properties with Visa Signature Concierge
Get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card (subject to a $25 deductible).
Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms and conditions
Cash Back: If you like your credit rewards in cash, this is a great pick with its outstanding cash back match program in your first year.
Welcome Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Rewards: 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and Balance Transfers, then 16.49% - 27.49% Variable APR.
Rewards Rate
5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
Sign-Up Bonus
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Highlights
INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem.
Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 16.49% to 27.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
No annual fee.
Click through to Discover’s website to see terms and conditions.
Cash Back: The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is one of the most innovative cards on the market, offering a rewards program that tailors itself to your spending habits.
Welcome Offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Rewards Rate
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
Highlights
Click "APPLY NOW" to apply online or call 800 408-4901. Speech/hearing impaired: 711 or other Relay Service
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% - 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
No Annual Fee
Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash℠ Card account per person.
Cash Back: With Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer, there aren’t any caps on the cash back you earn and no categories to worry about, making maximizing your cash back simple.
Welcome Offer: None
Rewards: Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Intro Balance Transfer APR
0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers
Regular Purchase & BT APR
18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
Highlights
Click "APPLY NOW" to apply online or call 888-343-4081. Speech/hearing impaired: 711 or other Relay Service
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% - 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Travel Rewards: This card one of the simplest – but most impactful – travel rewards programs out there: earn 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Welcome Offer: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Annual Fee: All the rewards above come with a $95 annual fee, but this can easily be offset in your first year with this card’s solid welcome offer.
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
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®
Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
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
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
0% Intro APR: This card is a great choice for those looking to save by avoiding considerable interest rate expenses on high card balances.Intro Balance Transfer APR: Intro APR of 0% for 21 months on Balance Transfers and then 17.74% - 28.49% (Variable) after that intro period is up.
Intro Purchase APR: Intro APR of 0% for 12 months on Purchases and then 17.74% - 28.49% (Variable) after that.
Rewards: This card doesn’t have a rewards program, but the nearly two years of 0% intro APR on balance transfers still makes this an amazing pick.
Extras: Get free access to your FICO® Score online, plus, with Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, and more.
Click "APPLY NOW" to apply online or call 866-553-0847. TTY: Use 711 or other Relay Service.
0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 17.74% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
With Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
Travel Rewards:
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire. Those points can be redeemed for nearly any travel purchase in the form of statement credit, so you’ll always get the most out of your rewards.
Welcome Offer: 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual Fee: $0 – and since this card also doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees, you’ll be earning rewards without having to worry about costs adding up abroad.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Flexible Redemption
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
0% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
0% Intro APR: One of the most remarkable features of this card is that there are no late fees or penalty rates charged for late payments.
Intro Balance Transfer APR: Cardholders get nearly two years of 0% intro APR: 0% for 21 months on Balance Transfers, then 18.74% - 29.49% (Variable) APR after that intro period is up.
Intro Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months on Purchases; after that, an APR of 18.74% - 29.49% (Variable) applies.
Rewards: This card is completely focused on offering the longest periods of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, so it doesn’t come with a rewards program.
Click "APPLY NOW" to apply online or call 877-886-4537. TTY: Use 711 or other Relay Service.
No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.74% - 29.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
There is an introductory balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater for balances transfers completed within 4 months of account opening.
Travel Rewards: This fantastic mid-tier card offers an outstanding 3x point multiplier in most travel-related categories alongside one of the best welcome offers you’ll find on a rewards card with a sub-$100 annual fee.
Welcome Offer: New cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus thankyou® points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Travel Rewards:If you’re a foodie, take note: cardholders earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases.
Welcome Offer: This is where this card really moves into the top-tier. 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 Ultimate Rewards®.
Annual Fee: This card comes with a $95 annual fee, but as with some other cards on this list, the astonishing welcome offer more than outweighs this in your first year.
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 Ultimate Rewards®.
Rewards Rate
5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Bonus Perks
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
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 Ultimate Rewards®.
Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 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.
Travel Rewards: Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee. There’s a reason this card is a favorite among frequent travelers – it’s simple, easy-to-use and incredibly powerful.
Welcome Offer: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
Annual Fee: It’s so nice we’ll say it twice: this card comes with a $0 annual fee.
Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
Rewards Rate
Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee.
0% Intro APR
0% Intro APR for 15 months, then 16.49% - 27.49% Variable APR
Highlights
UNLIMITED BONUS: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee.
Redeem Miles to pay any part of your monthly bill, including your minimum payment.
Turn Miles into cash in any amount, any time. Or redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more with no blackout dates. However you redeem, Miles keep the same value. And Miles never expire.
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 16.49% to 27.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
Freeze your account in seconds with an on/off switch either on the mobile app or website to prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.
Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Activate for free.
Click through to Discover’s website to see terms and conditions.
The holidays are almost here, but it’s not too late to make the most of your holiday spending with the right credit card. Whether you choose 0% intro APR, cash back or travel rewards, you’ll help give your budget a boost and ring in the new year right.
Apply now for smarter spending during the holidays – and all year long!
Methodology
Each month, the CompareCards team reviews over 100 credit card offers examining the features most valuable to consumers including rewards, sign-up bonus, the interest rate, fees and other features to identify the best offers shown here.
At CompareCards.com, our mission is to help people make more informed financial decisions each and every day. Since we first launched back in 2005, we have been focused on helping our users research, compare and apply for the right credit card for their needs. We pride ourselves on providing resources born out of thorough research and expert guidance – even if we aren’t able to cover every single credit card or issuer on our site.
We’re able to provide our tools and reviews free of charge and accessible to anyone because our partners compensate us. This compensation can impact where products from our partners show up on our site and which products we choose to feature but doesn’t have any influence over our reviews or opinions – our partners cannot and do not compensate us for positive reviews or impressions. Comparecards.com is dedicated to providing independent and unbiased information on how to help people meet their financial goals.
About Our Ratings
Our editors rate credit cards objectively based on the features the credit card offers consumers, the fees and interest rates, and how a credit card compares with other cards in its category. The ratings are the expert opinion of our editors, and not influenced by any remuneration this site receives from card issuers.
Excellent Credit
Between 720 - 850
Credit cards for excellent credit are intended for those with a credit score between 720 - 850.
Good Credit
Between 660 - 719
Credit cards for good credit are intended for those with a credit score between 660 - 719.
Fair Credit
Between 600 - 659
Credit cards for fair credit are intended for those with a credit score between 600 - 659.
Poor Credit
Between 300 - 599
Credit cards for poor credit are intended for those with a credit score between 300 - 599.
No/Limited Credit
- - -
Credit cards for no credit are intended for those without an established credit score.
Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion.
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