Hear from our editors: The best credit cards for good credit of October 2026
Updated September 30, 2026
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
Edited by: Amy Kalin, Senior Editor, Credit & Debt
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 Chase Travel℠, 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 more details about Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
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 its 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 more about the Citi Double Cash® Card.
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 the quarterly maximum 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.
Read more information about 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 $863 toward travel, according to Credit Karma’s standard point valuations. You can earn this card’s 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 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.
Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
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 about 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, including preferred seat benefits and 7,500 anniversary bonus points every year. That’s good news because those can help you offset the $229 annual fee.
Learn more about 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 $150 after first year.
Read about 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
What is a good credit score?
A good credit score is typically considered the second-highest level of score you can have, right below excellent credit scores. But different credit-scoring models might define these ranges differently. FICO® defines good credit as a range between 670 to 739, but VantageScore® lists good credit between 661 and 780. If you’re curious which category your credit score falls into, check out our guide to credit score ranges.
How can I get a good credit score?
To get a good credit score, healthy credit habits will go a long way. Paying your bills on time and in full, keeping low balances on your credit cards, and keeping older accounts open to help extend the length of your credit history will all set you on the right path. There’s no way to predict exactly what your credit scores will be, but if you do these things, the credit bureaus usually respond favorably.
How long does it take to get a good credit score?
If you’ve never had credit before, it can take at least three to six months to generate a credit score for the first time. It can take a lot longer than that to get into the good or excellent category. If you’re working on rebuilding your credit and have derogatory marks on your credit report, like a bankruptcy, it can take longer.
How do I go from good to excellent credit?
Time and careful use of financial products are the two main ingredients for building credit. Potential lenders want to see a history of positive usage, including paying your bills on time, every time. Keeping your credit utilization ratio as low as possible, having a good credit mix, avoiding a lot of hard inquiries, and keeping old accounts open so you’ll have a higher average account age can all contribute to building credit.
What is the best credit card to have with a good credit score?
If you have good credit, you’ll have more options in terms of the credit cards you can get. That means you may qualify for rewards cards that can help make your life a little easier. The best credit card to have is one that makes sense for your lifestyle. If you’re an avid traveler, you may want to consider cards that help you get your next flight for points instead of cash. If you cook a ton, you can look for a card that gives you cash back on groceries. Big driver? A gas credit card might be the way.
Which credit card is easy to get with good credit?
Credit card issuers don’t make a habit of posting credit score requirements for cards, so it’s hard to say exactly which cards are the easiest to get. Certain categories of cards are typically easier to qualify for, like retail cards or secured cards. These kinds of cards can help you work on your credit, but they often have higher fees and lower credit limits. People with good credit could potentially qualify for cards with better terms, like rewards cards, but everyone’s situation is different.
