Hear from our editors: The best credit cards for excellent credit of May 2026
Updated April 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: Ben Luthi
Edited by: Eric Freeman, Editorial Lead, Credit Cards
The best credit cards for excellent credit provide some solid rewards and perks that can enhance your experience as a cardholder.
If you have excellent credit — typically considered to be a VantageScore above 780 or a FICO® score of 800 or higher — you’ll have a chance to qualify for some of the best credit cards available on the market. That includes premium rewards and benefits, strong cash back offers, top-tier business credit cards and more.
Here’s our take on the best options.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for premium rewards
- American Express Platinum Card®: Best for luxury perks
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for straightforward travel rewards
- Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for a high cash back rewards rate
- Chase Freedom Flex®: Best for cash back bonuses
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for premium rewards
Here’s why: This travel card offers a large sign-up bonus plus generous rewards on travel and dining.
First, you’ll earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening. You’ll earn eight points per $1 spent on purchases made through Chase Travel, four points per $1 spent on direct airline and hotel bookings, and three points per $1 spent on dining. Then, you’ll earn one point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
You can redeem your Chase Sapphire Reserve® to book travel through Chase. If you want more flexibility and the potential for better value, you can also transfer your rewards to one of Chase’s several airline and hotel partners.
Here are some other benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
- $300 annual travel credit
- Complimentary Chase Sapphire Lounge and Priority Pass™ Select airport lounge access
- Application fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus
The major downside is the card’s annual fee: $795. But if you can take full advantage of its rewards program and benefits, it can be worth it.
Read Credit Karma’s review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® to learn more.
American Express Platinum Card®: Best for luxury perks
Here’s why: The luxury benefits that you get with the American Express Platinum Card® can provide more than enough value to make up for its steep $895 annual fee.
You’ll earn five points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year, then one point per $1), as well as on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. But all other purchases will net you just one point per $1.
You can redeem rewards directly with American Express for up to 1 cent per point, or you can transfer your points to one of the card issuer’s airline and hotel transfer partners to potentially get more value.
But the American Express Platinum Card®’ real value is in its benefits, which include the following:
- A $200 annual airline fee credit (enrollment required)
- Up to $200 in annual Uber credits
- Complimentary airport lounge access with select lounges
- Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Elite hotel status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required)
- Premium rental car benefits with select brands
Depending on how (and how often) you travel, you can squeeze much more value out of this card every year than what you pay for it.
Get more details in our American Express Platinum Card® review.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for straightforward travel rewards
Here’s why: You’ll earn five miles per $1 spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and two miles per $1 spent on every other purchase.
You’ll also get 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months after opening your account.
Miles are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed for travel, and you’ll have a lot of flexibility with how you can book. You can redeem directly through Capital One or use your card to book travel elsewhere, and then request a statement credit against the purchase after it posts to your account. You can also transfer your points to one of Capital One’s travel partners.
The card also offers an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and it has an annual fee of $95.
Read the full review of Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card for more information.
Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for a high cash back rewards rate
Here’s why: You’ll earn a flat 2% cash back with the Citi Double Cash® Card — 1% back when you make a purchase and 1% back as you pay it off.
You can redeem your cash back as a statement credit, direct deposit or paper check.
The annual fee is $0.
Learn more about the Citi Double Cash® Card in our full review.
Chase Freedom Flex®: Best for cash back bonuses
Here’s why: This card offers a lot of opportunities to earn cash back.
You can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating bonus categories each quarter. Once you hit the quarterly cap, the rate drops to 1%. Also, you’ll need to remember to activate the bonus categories each quarter in order to qualify for the 5% cash back rate. Learn more about Chase’s rotating cash back categories.
You can also earn cash back on the following purchases:
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 3% on drugstores and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery)
- 1% back on all other purchases
You can also earn $200 after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
You get all of this with a $0 annual fee.
Learn more about the Chase Freedom Flex® in our full review.
How we picked these cards
If you have an excellent credit score, you’re likely to be able to choose from a lot of credit card options. With that in mind, we wanted to pick a wide variety of rewards credit cards that could suit your needs. And while many of these cards have annual fees, cardholders can find ways to cover them with points and perks.
