Best Credit Cards 2021 | GOBankingRates

GOBankingRates' Best Credit Cards for Travel, Rewards & More

By Gabrielle Olya

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The Best Credit Cards To Help Rebuild Your Credit

By John Csiszar

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How To Handle Day-to-Day Credit Card Mishaps

By Gabrielle Olya

Top Picks: The 10 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards Available Now

By Gabrielle Olya

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How to Use Your Credit Card Like a Rich Person

By Gabrielle Olya

MORE TOP CREDIT CARD PICKS

IF YOU WANT REWARDS

IF YOU LOVE TRAVEL

IF YOU FLY OFTEN

IF YOU WANT CASH BACK

The 10 Best Rewards Credit Cards Available Now

By Gabrielle Olya

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The 10 Best Travel Credit Cards Available Now

By Gabrielle Olya

The 10 Best Airline Credit Cards Available Now

By Gabrielle Olya

on October 18, 2021

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The 10 Best Cash-Back Credit Cards Available Now

By Cynthia Bowman

Credit Card Use

Save For Your Future

CREDIT CARD QUESTIONS ANSWERED

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5 Reasons Why You Need a Cash-Back Card in Your Wallet

With so many credit cards available, it can be tough to navigate all the different types. For example, hotel and airline credit cards offer great bonuses for those who are loyal to certain brands. On the other hand, travel rewards credit cards tend to come with fees, so they won't be worth it if you don't travel much. In that case, you may be better off going with a cash-back credit card, as they often have very few fees, among other benefits. Your Money: Stay on Track With the Financial Stability Roadmap This gallery will walk through some of the…

By Bob Haegele

Why It's a Bad Move To Use the Same Credit Cards Indefinitely

Although credit cards offer a high level of convenience, they're not for everyone. If you have trouble paying off your balance every month, you'll end up paying high interest charges and potentially damage your credit score. However, for those who can use credit cards responsibly, they can be a great financial tool. For starters, proper credit card usage can raise your credit score, which will potentially lower the interest rate on any future borrowings, from auto loans to home mortgages. Credit cards also typically provide a wide range of perks. Here are some reasons why you might want to responsibly…

By John Csiszar

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Do Hybrid Rewards Cards Make Any Difference in Total Rewards Saved?

When it comes to opening a credit card, there's almost a mind-boggling array of choices, including no annual fee, cash back, balance transfer, rewards, hotel, airline, store, student and business. And because a credit card is a financial tool, it's important to be judicious when opening a new account. If you're looking for a card that's more flexible when it comes to rewards, you may want to consider a hybrid rewards credit card. Learn what it is, how it can help you and whether it's something you should make space for in your wallet. GOBankingRates' Best Credit Cards: See the…

By Cynthia Measom

How Many Credit Cards Should You Have? And More Credit Card Questions Answered

There's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how many credit cards you should have. Like all financial decisions, the right number of credit cards depends on your personal finance profile, from your income and age to your financial objectives and free cash reserves. Important: Why It's a Bad Move To Use the Same Credit Cards Indefinitely See: 10 Things to Do Now If You Have a 500 Credit Score However, one thing is for certain — you should never open any credit card account unless you have the financial means to pay it off in full before interest charges accrue….

By John Csiszar

How To 'Erase' Credit Card Annual Fees

According to a Federal Trade Commission report, annual fees on credit cards have been increasing steadily over the years. The average annual fee in 2020 was $94 per card, according to the FTC report. Higher fees might be more and more difficult for some cardholders to justify. But despite the upward trend in annual fees, many credit cards come with some excellent perks. In fact, credit cards can have such lucrative benefits that an annual fee might be worth it. We Asked: 90-Second Moves To Raise Your Credit Score 200 Points Portal Update: 10 Things To Do Now If You…

By Bob Haegele

How Many Credit Cards Do You Need To Get a Higher Credit Score?

Your credit score is the product of a complex algorithm that factors in numerous variables. The number of credit cards you have is a portion of that mix, but it's not one of the most important. In fact, the actual number of your credit cards is practically irrelevant compared to the big movers of your credit score, like how you use them. Here's a look at what exactly goes into a credit score, along with an explanation of what you need to do to get or maintain top-tier credit. Get Started: Make a Debt-Free Future Your Reality Credit Score:90-Second Moves…

By John Csiszar

DID YOU KNOW

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I Use These 3 Foolproof Strategies To Avoid Credit Card Debt

Some of my favorite things about credit cards are that they allow you to spend flexibly, to get rewards that range from travel to cash back and to avoid hardships associated with having a short-term financial shortage or emergency. Arguably one of the worst things about them, though, is how expensive it can be when that convenience becomes long-term credit card debt. Read: 10 Ways To Bounce Back From a Heavy Spending Month on Your Credit CardSee: What Not To Do While Trying To Get Out of Debt You can avoid getting into credit card debt by canceling all of your cards,…

By Andrew Schrage

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Jaw-Dropping Stats About the State of Credit Card Debt in America

Most Americans have some credit card debt. A recent GOBankingRates survey found that 30% of Americans have between $1,001 and $5,000 in credit card debt, 15% have $5,001 or more in credit card debt and about 6% have more than $10,000 in credit card debt. Although 6% may seem like a small amount, that means that based on the survey results, 14 million Americans have over $10,000 of credit card debt. SNAP 2022: Is My State Giving Out Extra EBT Food Stamp Money in June? See: 9 Bills You Should Never Put on Autopay Here's a look at even more…

By Gabrielle Olya

4 Discontinued Credit Cards That We Miss

By Andrew Lisa

Jaw-Dropping Stats About the State of Debt in America

By Gabrielle Olya

GOBankingRates’ Best Cash-Back Credit Cards

By Cynthia Bowman

Suze Orman, Dave Ramsey and More Experts Give Their Top Advice About Getting Out Of Debt

By Andrew Lisa

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How Many Credit Cards Should You Use on a Monthly Basis?

By Heather Taylor

Save For Your Future

MORE ABOUT CREDIT CARDS

New Survey Reveals What Americans Hate Most About Credit Cards

Credit cards have many benefits, from providing a financial cushion in case of emergencies, to helping build credit scores to accumulating rewards and perks. While there are endless cards to choose from, there is one aspect many Americans agree on: Annual membership fees are the worst, according to a new survey. Important: Why It's a Bad Move To Use the Same Credit Cards Indefinitely The new GOBankingRates survey, which questioned over 1,000 Americans, found that annual membership fees took the top spot in two ways: It was the top thing people tried to avoid when signing up, and 36% of those…

By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy

How To Cancel a Credit Card Without Hurting Your Credit Score

There are plenty of reasons to cancel a credit card. However, you should understand what canceling will do to your credit score, because canceling can have a negative impact. Canceling requires more than just cutting up the card and throwing it out to keep your score intact. The good news is you can minimize the damage or, in some cases, avoid it entirely if you decide to cancel. Here's how you can make that decision and how to cancel a credit card without damaging your credit score. Reasons To Cancel a Credit Card Any number of circumstances might warrant canceling…

By Andrea Norris

Should I Contribute To My 401(k) or Pay Off My Credit Card Debt?

It's been over a decade since the Great Recession swept through the nation, yet two-thirds of Americans said they still feel haunted by its effects in the way they work, live, save and spend, according to a study from Allianz Life Insurance Co. Many of the 2,000 baby boomers and Gen X-ers studied also said they had lower confidence in their ability to achieve financial security. This has only been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic and its affect on unemployment in the U.S. See: 20 Investments That Are Recession-Proof Important: Why It's a Bad Move To Use the Same Credit Cards…

By Roger Wohlner

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Lesser-Known Credit Card Perks You Should Be Taking Advantage Of

Cash back and flight miles are some common benefits to having a credit card, but you could be missing out on some hidden perks that could really come in handy. From travel insurance to shopping bonuses, there's a whole lot having a credit card in your wallet can do for you. GOBankingRates' Best Credit Cards: See the Top Cards and Get Helpful Tips See: 4 Credit Cards That Are Great for Day-to-Day Errands Travel Insurance Lost a bag? Had to cancel a trip due to extenuating circumstances? Need to cancel a hotel at the last minute? These are all instances that…

By Sam DiSalvo

The Quickest Ways To Pay Off Your Credit Card Debt

Credit card debt is a financial scourge, as it can rapidly spiral out of control due to high interest rates. However, sometimes it can be difficult to avoid going into debt. This has been particularly true for many Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, as spiraling unemployment and stay-at-home orders have created widespread financial difficulty. If you find yourself weighed down by credit card debt for any reason, take a look at these tips to help you pay it off more rapidly. Important: Why It's a Bad Move To Use the Same Credit Cards IndefinitelyLearn: The Top Purchases You Should Always Make With…

By John Csiszar

How To Safely Get Back Into Using a Credit Card If You've Had a Bad Experience With Debt

When used responsibly, credit cards are a key ingredient of a healthy financial life. But when misused, revolving debt becomes financial quicksand. "Credit cards are a convenient, cash-free way to shop and they also offer a great opportunity to build strong credit," said Trae Bodge, a shopping expert and founder of TrueTrae.com. "But they can also work against you with high balances, missed payments, etc." Important: Why It's a Bad Move To Use the Same Credit Cards Indefinitely See: 4 Credit Cards That Are Great for Day-to-Day Errands Millions of Americans have fallen into debt this way and many of them are…

By Andrew Lisa