The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

7 Best Credit Cards & Loans: 800-850 Credit Score (March 2024)

800 850 Credit Score
Brittney Mayer

Written by: Brittney Mayer

Brittney Mayer
Brittney Mayer

Brittney is a Credit Strategist and Finance Expert who has spent years honing her knowledge of the credit industry both personally and professionally. Brittney applies her more than a decade of research experience to crafting in-depth consumer guides designed to help CardRates readers make better, more informed financial decisions.

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Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro
Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Florida. Today, Lillian edits all CardRates content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

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Advertiser Disclosure

At the end of any good video game, just before the credits roll, are the words that vindicate the hard work and hours of time invested in beating each boss and mastering each level: “You Win!”

If consumer credit were a video game, hitting an 800+ credit score would also come with pixelated fireworks and those coveted words. Because it’s true — when your credit score is in the 800 to 850 range, you’ve done it; you’ve won the credit score game.

Congratulations! You are now among an elite group of super prime credit users. Other consumers want to be you, and creditors want to lend you money. You can now have your pick of most credit cards and loans, as well as enjoy the lowest rates and fees available.

Credit Cards | Personal Loans | Auto Loan | Home Loan

Credit Cards: 800-850 Credit Score

At their core, credit cards are much like magic — they’re only bad when misused. When used responsibly, however, credit cards can be a fantastic financial tool.

Indeed, for cardholders who pay them off in full each month, credit cards hold very little risk, as the vast majority of cards won’t charge interest fees on balances paid in full by the due date for that billing cycle.

Moreover, credit cards can unlock significant value through purchase rewards — who doesn’t want to fly for free? — as well as benefits that include hotel elite status, airport lounge access, and exclusive partner discounts and deals.

1. Discover it® Cash Back

The very first Discover Card launched in 1986 with no annual fee and higher-than-normal spending limits, immediately garnering popularity. The introduction of Discover’s now-iconic cash back rewards program cemented the card’s place in the wallets of millions of Americans.

Today’s Discover credit cards have come a long way from those early iterations, but some things still hold true. Discover’s cards are still top contenders in the industry and come with larger than life features and rewards.

Discover it® Cash Back Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

EXCELLENT CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.9
OVERALL RATING
  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – 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 you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • 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.
  • Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
  • No annual fee.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 months
0% Intro APR for 15 months
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
$0
Excellent/Good

The Discover it® Cash Back offers a super high cash back rewards rate for purchases that fall into rotating bonus categories. Bonus categories change each quarter, giving you a different way to earn bonus cash back every three months when you activate your bonus.

Bonus rewards categories include a range of useful purchase types, with past categories including gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and wholesale clubs. Purchases that don’t fall into the bonus category — or those beyond the bonus category spending cap — will default to the standard cash back rate.

Cash back rewards can be redeemed in a few clicks through your online banking portal or mobile app. Perhaps one of the most convenient parts of Discover’s cash back rewards program, however, is that you don’t have to wait until you reach some arbitrary cap to redeem; you can do so at any time, with no minimum redemption amount.

Keep in mind that while an 800+ credit score will easily qualify most consumers for this card, Discover will look at your entire credit profile before making a decision. Additionally, Discover limits the number of simultaneous personal Discover cards to two per person.

2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One is another popular credit card issuer that has been responsible for disrupting the credit card industry essentially since its inception. For years, one of the biggest problems with travel rewards credit cards has been actually redeeming those rewards while working around the numerous blackout dates and brand restrictions.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was one of the first travel rewards cards to offer another option. Rather than being limited to certain airlines, hotels, and dates, users could redeem their Venture rewards at any time, to cover travel with any airline or hotel — or even car rental agencies and parking lots.

EXCELLENT CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.8
OVERALL RATING
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$95
Excellent, Good

To redeem Venture miles on existing travel purchases, users can select qualifying travel transactions through their online account or mobile app. The flexible Venture miles earned by Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card users has become the standard for non-transferable travel rewards — but Capital One’s travel rewards program hasn’t stopped there. As of December 2018, Venture miles can also be transferred to more than 10 airline partners, giving cardholders even more ways to redeem.

Earning Venture miles with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is just as easy redeeming them, as you’ll earn an unlimited 2X miles per dollar spend on your card, with no categories to track or activate. As with several other issuers, Capital One limits the number of credit cards you can have open at one time, restricting consumers to two personal cards per person. Capital One business credit cards don’t count toward the two-card personal limit.

3. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

From the very first days of its launch — and its historic 100,000-point signup bonus — the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been considered one of the best rewards credit cards available on the market. Cardholders’ ability to earn a then-untopped 3X points per dollar on both travel and dining purchases instantly won it a place in wallets around the country.

And those bonus categories are remarkably broad. Travel expenses can include anything from airline and hotel purchases to parking and tolls, while eligible dining purchases can be from any establishment that codes as a restaurant, including both dine-in and take-out restaurants.

EXCELLENT CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.7
OVERALL RATING
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™; Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
22.49%-29.49% Variable
$550
Good/Excellent

Of course, as important as — if not more so than — the number of rewards the card earns is the type of rewards: Ultimate Rewards® points. Chase’s flagship points program is frequently considered to have the most valuable points out there thanks to its redemption versatility.

Specifically, Ultimate Rewards® points can be redeemed for the standard cash equivalents — a statement credit or gift cards — but it’s the travel redemption options that really shine. To start, you can redeem for blackout-free travel through Chase’s travel portal; Reserve cardholders will earn 1.5¢ for each point with this option.

However, it gets better. Cardholders can also transfer Ultimate Rewards® points to one of a dozen hotel or airline loyalty programs, turning those points into branded frequent flyer miles or hotel points that can be pooled with your existing loyalty rewards.

What may be the biggest downside to the card — besides the hefty annual fee — is that it falls under Chase’s 5/24 Rule. This means that applicants who have opened five or more credit cards within the last 24 months will be automatically rejected for the card, perfect credit score notwithstanding.

Personal Loans: 800-850 Credit Score

For anyone who needs to finance a large purchase over several years, personal installment loans can be an invaluable tool, offering simple financing without the usage restrictions common to other types of loans (auto and home loans, for instance).

With a credit score over 800, you should have little trouble finding and qualifying for an unsecured personal loan; indeed, your credit score will likely also unlock the lowest rates and fees for that loan.

Your excellent credit score can also help with your loan size. Though your income will also be a factor, an 800+ credit score often means you can qualify for larger loans than those available to people with similar incomes but lower credit scores.

4. PersonalLoans.com

One of the most convenient aspects of finding a loan with excellent credit is that most, if not all, lenders will be happy to help you out, which means you won’t need to go from lender to lender looking for approval. Of course, you’ll still want to investigate a few lenders to find the best loan terms.

A simple way to compare multiple loan offers is to use an online lending network, such as PersonalLoans.com. With a broad network of lending partners, PersonalLoans.com can help borrowers connect with multiple lenders, all with a single application.

  • Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $35,000
  • All credit types welcome to apply
  • Lending partners in all 50 states
  • Loans can be used for any purpose
  • Fast online approval
  • Funding in as few as 24 hours
Overall Rating
★★★★
4.4

PersonalLoans.com offers loans with a variety of terms, with loans ranging in size from $2,000 up to $35,000. Together with a decent income, someone with an 800+ credit score should easily qualify for a loan in the upper end of the range.

Typical loans from a PersonalLoans.com partner lender will have a term length from three months up to six years (72 months), though your individual terms can vary based on your needs, income, and loan size. Funds can be obtained in as little as one business day, though some loans may take longer to disperse.

5. SignatureLoan.com

With a name based on the idea that unsecured loans are borrowed on the power of your signature, SignatureLoans.com is another online lending network that allows borrowers to connect with an array of lenders from around the country to find the right personal installment loan.

SignatureLoans.com advertises funding in as little as 24 hours from its partner lenders. Loans can be obtained in amounts from $1,000 up to $35,000, and with loan terms as long as six years (72 months), which gives you plenty of time to pay off your loan.

  • Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $35,000
  • Flexible credit requirements
  • Loans can be used for anything
  • Five minute application
  • Funding possible in as few as 24 hours
  • Large lending network with multiple partners
Overall Rating
★★★★★
4.8

As an online lending network, SignatureLoans.com acts as the middleman between its network of lending partners and prospective borrowers. However, it’s important to note that online lending networks don’t actually finance the loan, and you won’t make any payments to the lending network itself.

If you find a lender and loan offer that meets your needs, you’ll be directed to the lender’s website to finish the loan process. It’s there that you’ll receive the full loan agreement and final loan terms.

Auto Loan: 800-850 Credit Score

The average transactions price for a new vehicle in the U.S. is a remarkably large $37,000 — which is only about $13,000 less than the typical American makes in an entire year. And, of course, if you’re looking for a luxury vehicle or electric car, be prepared to shell out twice that (or more).

As many of us know firsthand, the high ticket price on our fancy computer-studded vehicles these days has made it so that auto loans are a virtual necessity to buy a vehicle.

Happily, having a credit score above 800 means you’re all but guaranteed to receive a fantastic interest rate on your next new (or used) car purchase. Since your interest fees are based on your interest rate, a low rate can reduce the overall cost of that new car by thousands of dollars over the course of a six-year, $35,000+ loan.

6. Auto Credit Express

As with every other industry, digitization is spawning all sorts of changes in the financial industry, and auto lending is no exception. Online lending and dealer networks are popping up, offering car buyers an easy way to find the right financing for them.

Auto Credit Express is one such online dealer network. The site has partnered with car dealers from around the country to help borrowers find the right dealer in their area, all from a single, simple online application.

  • Dealer partner network has closed over $1 billion in auto loans
  • Can help those with bad credit, no credit, bankruptcy, and repossession
  • Established in 1999
  • Easy, 30-second pre-qualification form
  • Bad-credit applicants must have $1500/month income to qualify
Overall Rating
★★★★★
4.9

The offers you receive will be based on many factors, including your credit profile, income, and existing debts. With a great credit score and reasonable income, you likely won’t have much problem qualifying for a loan for most new vehicles (though a trade-in vehicle can also help if you need a larger loan than you’re offered).

Similar to other online lender and dealer networks, Auto Credit Express itself has nothing to do with your loan or your vehicle purchase. Once you choose one of the network’s partners, you’ll start communicating with the dealer directly to find a vehicle and complete the process.

Home Loan: 800-850 Credit Score

Ah, the mortgage loan. With one little piece of paper — alright, so it’s more like 25 pieces of paper — and some signatures, a lender hands over a six-digit check… which you promptly hand over to the seller of whatever home you’re purchasing (or, more likely, their agent).

As a member of the exclusive super prime club, potential homebuyers often have a remarkably easy time finding a mortgage loan, often at market-bottom interest rates, to boot.

Of course, other factors will also come into play beyond your credit score, including your income and your existing debt, which is typically calculated as your debt-to-income ratio, or DTI. Your region or city may also impact your loan process, as will the specific property you wish to purchase.

7. Rocket Mortgage

Before you commit yourself to a 30-year, six-digit debt, it’s important to understand all the ins and outs of that debt. For instance, with such a large loan, over such a long period of time, even the smallest difference in interest rates can equate to thousands of dollars by the time you’re all paid up.

That’s where America’s largest mortgage lender may be able to help.

  • America's largest mortgage lender
  • The entire process is completed online
  • Options for new mortgages and refinancing existing mortgages
  • Award-winning customer service and cutting-edge digital platforms
  • More than 90% of clients recommend us
Overall Rating
★★★★★
4.8

Rocket Mortgage has an easy application process that’s done completely online. You can use them to purchase a new home, refinance an existing mortgage, or get a home equity loan.

Unlike other types of loans, of course, mortgages aren’t entirely as simple as “apply and start spending.” Depending on the type of loan and the property you select, you may need to go through additional steps before the loan is finalized.

Make the Most of Your Great Credit

Few things are quite as satisfying as knowing you’ve reached a major goal or milestone — like that coveted “You Win!” and satisfying credit scroll at the end of a good video game.

Reaching the top tier of credit scores, the 800 to 850 range, is a huge credit milestone, and one that should be appreciated (and, if you like, celebrated.) The pinnacle of creditworthiness, an excellent credit score puts most of the credit world at your responsible fingertips.

Of course, that excellent credit score can be lost far more easily than it was gained. Be sure to maintain your excellent score by paying every bill on time, keeping low utilization rates, and being cautious about opening new credit lines.

Range of credit scores covered in this article: 800, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810, 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, 833, 834, 835, 836, 837, 838, 839, 840, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848, 849, and 850 credit score

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