Writer: Adam West
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
Disclosure: When you apply through links on our site, we may earn a referral fee from our partners. For more, see our ad disclosure and review policy.
Several important factors separate the best major credit cards from several good mid-range options. The most important of these factors is acceptance.
Major credit cards work on networks that most worldwide merchants and service providers accept. They’re also backed by large banks that have long, established histories. They won’t limit where you can use your card or leave you stranded when you’re strapped for cash.
Below we review the best major credit cards and break them down by popular card features.
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Best Overall Major Credit Card
Discover has the distinction of being both a bank and your card’s processing network. As the issuer continues to grow, you’ll find millions of worldwide locations that accept your Discover card. With the Discover it® Cash Back, you’ll earn bonus rewards in quarterly category purchases that you activate, up to the quarterly maximum. These categories include gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and wholesale clubs, among others. All other purchases earn cash back at a standard reduced rate.
4.9
- 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.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
- Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with your digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 27.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
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0% Intro APR for 15 months
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18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
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$0
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Excellent/Good
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The Discover it® Cash Back card is an excellent choice for those seeking cash back rewards. With a low APR and friendly introductory terms, it’s also attractive to those who want the benefits of a robust rewards program without breaking the bank on interest payments. What’s more, Discover is known to have excellent customer service, with a toll-free 24/7 phone line, a handy mobile app, and online support.
Best Major Credit Card for Air Miles
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card can get you to your next vacation much faster, thanks to the 2X miles you’ll earn on every dollar you charge to the card. You can redeem those miles for statement credits that reimburse you for travel expenses that include airfare, hotel stays, car rentals, and more.
4.8
- 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, vacation rentals 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 $120 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
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
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N/A
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19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
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$95
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Excellent, Good
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Capital One typically offers generous signup bonuses with this card that can pay out a large number of miles when you meet specific spending thresholds within a set time period of opening your account. The card also provides up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.
Best Major Credit Card for Cash Back
Cash is king, even in the credit card space. If you like a good cash back credit card, you’ll love the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card. Not only does this card payout cash back rewards on all of your purchases, but it chips in intro 0% APR terms for a promotional period — perfect for a big purchase or to pay off existing debt on a high-interest card.
4.8
- Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months
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0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months
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18.99% - 28.49% Variable
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$0
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Good/Excellent
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Chase also pays out a signup bonus when you meet the minimum spending threshold within your first few months with the card. Since you won’t have an annual fee with this card, you’re getting free money if you pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges.
Best Major Credit Card for Points
Chase has mastered the points game, thanks to its ever-popular rewards program. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you’ll earn the most points on travel and dining purchases and one point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
4.8
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
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N/A
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19.99% - 28.24% Variable
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$95
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Good/Excellent
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What sets Chase apart in the race for the best points program is the flexibility that cardholders have when redeeming their rewards. Through Chase, you can use your earned points for travel, cash back, merchandise, statement credits, and several other popular choices.
Best Major Credit Card for Balance Transfers
As of 2022, American households owed an average of around $9,000 in credit card debt. And with quickly rising interest rates, that debt isn’t cheap. With a good balance transfer credit card, you can move your existing debt over and pay no interest on it for the duration of the promotional period.
4.8
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months and on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 17.24% – 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
- With Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
- No Annual Fee – our low intro rates and all the benefits don’t come with a yearly charge.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% 12 months on Purchases
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0% 21 months on Balance Transfers
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17.24% – 27.99% (Variable)
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$0
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Good/Excellent
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Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
While you’re enjoying the lengthy introductory APR period, you can also access plenty of benefits. Read the card’s terms and conditions for more details.
Best Major Credit Card with 0% APR
There’s no better way to make a large purchase or knock out existing high-interest debt than with a credit card that features a good interest-free introductory rate. Cardholders can take advantage of a long introductory 0% promotional period, which may apply to new purchases and balance transfers.
4.8
- New offer! Earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice: gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings. You’ll automatically earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. After the first year from account opening, you’ll earn 3% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum.
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- With the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program, members can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means the 3% choice category could go up to 3.75%-5.25%. The Preferred Rewards bonus is not applied to the 3% first-year bonus.
- No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
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0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
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18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
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$0
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Excellent/Good
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Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
After the promotional period, your APR will revert to a variable rate based on your credit history, which is disclosed to you upon approval. That means you should pay off any purchases or balance transfers before the end of the period.
Best Major Credit Card for Businesses
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card from Chase gives business owners flexibility, competitive interest rates, and access to the best rewards platform in the industry. This business credit card offers generous rewards in select categories each year on purchases of up to $150,000, and all other purchases earn an unlimited one-point per $1 spent.
4.6
- Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
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N/A
|
20.24% - 26.24% Variable
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$95
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Good/Excellent
|
You can also obtain employee cards at no additional cost. There are no foreign transaction fees on this card, and it has a very competitive ongoing variable APR.
Best Major Credit Card for Students
College is expensive, and no student should head into the adult world with debt on a high-interest credit card. The Discover it® Student Cash Back card works with students to help them establish a positive credit history without expensive fees.
4.8
- 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. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
- 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.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- No credit score required to apply.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.24% - 26.24% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 6 months
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10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
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17.24% - 26.24% Variable APR
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$0
|
Fair/New to Credit
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Rewards never expire as long as the account remains open and there are no redemption minimums.
Best Major Credit Card for Fair or No/Limited Credit
Building a credit history is tough. You need a credit history to improve your credit score, but you may be limited in credit offers if you don’t have a credit report and score. The Capital One Platinum Credit Card works to help consumers with fair or limited credit get on the right track with a competitive interest rate and no annual fee.
4.9
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
29.74% (Variable)
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$0
|
Average, Fair, Limited
|
Capital One regularly monitors cardholders’ accounts to see if they qualify for card upgrades or credit limit increases. You may qualify for one of these perks after you make your first five payments on time.
Best Secured Major Credit Card
Most secured credit cards require a refundable security deposit that acts as your credit limit. So, for example, a $500 deposit would yield a $500 credit limit. But the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card offers a sliding scale for its deposits that’s based on your credit profile. That means you’ll have to pay either $49, $99, or $200 to get access to an initial $200 credit limit. Secured cards are typically designed for consumers with bad credit.
4.7
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
- Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get at least a $200 initial credit line
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
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Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
29.74% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Limited, Bad
|
Capital One typically offers a credit limit increase to cardholders who make their first six payments on time. You can continue to receive credit limit increases with responsible usage and without having to pay additional deposit money.
What are the Major Credit Card Companies?
When discussing credit card companies, there are two major factors you have to consider — the network and the issuing bank. Both are incredibly important but play very different roles in determining if a card is part of the “Major Credit Card” club.
Your credit card’s issuing bank funds your transactions so you can make purchases with your card. When you apply for your card, this is the company that decides whether to accept your application and issue you a card.
A credit card is essentially an on-demand loan. Any time you use your card to pay for something, the issuing bank facilitates the transaction and sends the money to the merchant on your behalf. You pay the bank back through your monthly payments — with interest.
Major players in the banking space include Capital One, Bank of America, Citi, and Chase. All have long and storied histories and provide rock-solid financial backing. You know that you can trust these companies to be there when you need them.
But these major banks have one small shortcoming. Although they can foot the bill for your credit card transactions, they don’t have the technological backbone to actually process the billions of credit card transactions that take place every year.
For that, they need credit card networks.
Credit card networks are companies you’ve almost certainly heard of — Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. These companies process your transactions and act as a gateway between the merchant and the issuing bank.
When you make your payment or apply for a new card, you aren’t transacting with these companies. They’re simply helping the bank process the transaction. Credit card networks get a small fee from the bank every time you swipe, tap, or insert your card.
Discover and American Express are a bit different because they’re both the issuing bank and the network, whereas banks like Chase and Capital One rely on Visa and Mastercard to process their cards’ transactions.
What is Considered a Major Credit Card?
A major credit card is any card offer that combines both a major issuing bank and a major network. For more information on the distinction between the two, see the question above.
A major issuing bank typically has a global presence in just about every major market. These include banks such as Capital One, Discover, Citi, and Chase. They have large operations and can fund transactions quickly and reliably.
But that reliability means nothing if the credit card’s network isn’t equally trustworthy. There’s a reason most consumers recognize the names Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. They’re the top card networks and, combined, process several trillion dollars in worldwide transactions each year.
Both the bank and the network play an important role in every seemingly instant credit card transaction you make. The bank fronts the money and the network processes the transaction. If one of these two facets becomes unstable, the entire process can fall apart.
That’s why it’s important to look at both the issuing bank and the credit card network that processes your transactions. Major credit cards combine the best of both and will provide you with a lifetime of stability and reliable transactions.
Is a Bank Card a Major Credit Card?
Many small and large banks and credit unions issue their own credit cards, but by definition, a bank card links to a depository account. These are typically known as debit or ATM cards.
While you can get a debit card with a credit card network logo — most often Visa or Mastercard — debit cards don’t actually act as credit cards.
When you complete a debit or PIN-based transaction, the merchant still uses the credit card processing network to complete the transaction. But instead of the issuing bank paying for your purchase on credit, the money spent is immediately deducted from your checking account balance.
This is very different from a major credit card transaction, in which the bank pays for your purchase on credit and you pay the bank back, with interest, via your monthly payments. Although your bank card may pass the majority of the tests required for consideration in the major credit card club (most prominently, the card is issued by a major bank and includes a major credit card network logo), it’s not actually a credit card.
Bank cards also don’t typically require an application for the card. Most cardholders simply need a deposit account — usually a checking account — at a bank or credit union to qualify. These cards rarely rely on your credit score for approval since they only allow you to spend whatever money you have in your account.
Some bank cards do allow a small margin of credit in case you overdraft your account, but that often comes with expensive overdraft fees.
Most Major Networks Are Accepted Everywhere
Convenience is the whole idea behind adding a major credit card to your wallet. What’s the point of applying for a card if it can’t be used when and where you want it to?
When you combine a major bank with one of the world’s top credit card networks, you end up with a card that has solid financial backing and reliable processing you can depend on no matter where life takes you.
And it’s that reliability that will keep you using that card over the years — which is what the banks and issuers want. That’s why they keep adding new rewards, security features, and other perks that other mid-tier cards simply can’t compete with.
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CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.
Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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