Credit cards for good scores

Hear from our editors: The best credit cards for good credit of December 2023

Updated November 30, 2023

This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.

Editorial Note: Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.

Written By: Gaby Lapera

If you have good credit, you might be able to qualify for a wide range of rewards credit cards. While you might not always qualify for the most-exclusive cards on the market, you should be able to get solid value for cash back, travel, hotels, airlines and any other type of rewards you’re looking for.

Here are our picks for the best credit cards for good credit to help you find a card that’s right for you.

• Best for cash back: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Best for simple cash back: Citi Double Cash® Card
• Best for rotating cash back categories: Discover it® Cash Back
• Best for travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for hotels: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
• Best for domestic flights: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
• Best for international flights: United℠ Explorer Card

Best for cash back: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Here’s why: This card is great for people with diverse spending habits who are looking to maximize their cash back potential without the hassle of rotating categories. Cardholders get 5% cash back on travel purchases made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3% on drugstore and dining purchases and 1.5% back on everything else. Plus, there’s no annual fee to eat into your rewards.

Check out reviews of theChase Freedom Unlimited® to learn more.

Best for simple cash back: Citi Double Cash® Card

Here’s why: If the idea of trying to track bonus categories is stressful, then a flat-rate cash back card like the Citi Double Cash® Card could be right for you. This card stands out among its peers for an unusually high 2% cash back rate — 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay it off. Plus, there’s no annual fee.

Read reviews of the Citi Double Cash® Card to learn more.

Best for rotating cash back categories: Discover it® Cash Back

Here’s why: If you don’t mind keeping track of changing categories, this card could help earn heaps of cash back. Cardholders earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent on purchases in categories that rotate quarterly (then 1%). You get 1% back on all other purchases. The $0 annual fee is also great, but you do need to remember to activate the higher rewards rate each quarter.

For more information, check out our review of the Discover it® Cash Back.

Best for travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Here’s why: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s sign-up bonus is what really makes it shine for travelers. The sign-up bonus could be worth an estimated $1,278 toward travel, according to Credit Karma’s point valuations. You can earn this card’s 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases during the first 3 months after account opening. You’ll also be able to earn rewards on travel purchases and other categories. Just watch out for the $95 annual fee.

Take a look reviews of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to learn more.

Best for hotels: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Here’s why: Marriott is a worldwide hotel chain with a robust loyalty program. If you’re a frequent traveler with access to Marriott hotels at your destinations, this card could be a good fit. Cardholders get automatic Silver Elite status, along with plenty of opportunities to earn points. The card has a $95 annual fee.

Learn more from reviews of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.

Best for domestic flights: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Here’s why: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a great option for people who primarily travel within North America. You’ll get solid rewards on travel, especially travel with Southwest. There are a couple of standout travel features: an annual $75 Southwest travel credit and 7,500 anniversary bonus points every year. That’s good news because those can help you offset the $149 annual fee.

Learn more in reviews of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card.

Best for international flights: United℠ Explorer Card

Here’s why: For people who travel across the world, the United℠ Explorer Card offers more chances for rewards value. Perks like priority boarding, a free checked bag on every flight, and a credit every four years toward TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry or Nexus can make your trips way easier. Just don’t forget the annual fee: $0 intro, then $95 after first year.

Read reviews of the United℠ Explorer Card to learn more.

How we picked these cards

Credit card issuers rarely indicate which credit scores are most likely to qualify for which cards. To help your search, we picked our best credit cards for good credit by identifying cards that make it clear they’re available to people who fall within that score band. In practice, that meant searching card issuer pages for references to good credit scores, checking the cards available on credit card marketplaces, and using our best judgment to choose cards that could appeal to both ends of the good credit score ranges.

While our picks might not encompass all cards available to people with good credit scores, we are confident that these cards remain attainable for these consumers and fit their needs.

FAQs about credit cards for good credit