Credit cards are not created equally. That means it is always in your best interest to shop around, compare perks, and find the card that will reward your individual lifestyle and purchasing habits. With dozens of cards available at any one time, shuffling through them can be exhausting — especially if only the best will do.
While there may be a few credit cards reserved exclusively for the most elite leaders and business people, in reality, some of the best credit cards around are available to the average consumer with the right credit score.
The Most Exclusive Credit Cards
When it comes to the most exclusive credit cards, many people think of the invite-only luxury cards for high rollers. But while you can often buy your way to a big card, even some cards available to the everyday budget are exclusively for consumers with excellent credit, putting them out of reach for the average person.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
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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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21.49%-28.49% Variable
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$95
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Good/Excellent
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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — and its pricier sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® — are well-known for its premium travel and dining rewards. Bonus point offers are available for certain purchases, and your perks go further when redeemed for travel. With its sleek metal finish, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is just as stylish as some of its more exclusive counterparts.
- 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®
- Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
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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% - 29.99% (Variable)
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$95
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Excellent, Good
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There is no limit to the rewards you can earn with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Travel perks and earnings opportunities are plentiful! Every 100 Capital One Venture miles you earn is worth a full $1 when redeemed for a travel credit, or transfer your miles to a participating partner loyalty program.
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 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 Ultimate Rewards®
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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
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N/A
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21.24%-26.24% Variable
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$95
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Good/Excellent
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This is the premier Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card, available only to those with business owners with excellent credit. The Ink Business Preferred℠ Card makes a great everyday card for businesses with its triple point bonus rewards for multiple popular categories, including travel, shipping, and advertising purchases.
The crème-de-la-crème of Mastercard® is the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Gold Card™, made from 24K-Gold-Plated carbon. It has the best rewards of all the luxury Mastercard®s, as well as one of the highest annual membership fees. Cardholders also get the occasional luxury gift and a subscription to Mastercard’s members-only magazine.
We’re not surprised to see Mastercard® with its own version of a luxury card. This card happens to be open for anyone to apply for, however, and features tons of perks. No need to wait for an invitation with this card. Those with worthy credit and a sizeable income can apply online.
- Brushed stainless steel and carbon card. Tailored to be an everyday essential. Rewards and protection benefits that are designed to be used everywhere you go, rather than select categories and purchases. Plus, no foreign transaction fees.
- 2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. 1% value for cash back redemptions. Earn one point for every one dollar spent. No minimum threshold requirement for cash back or airfare redemptions.
- 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®—available by phone, email, SMS and chat in the app. Around-the-clock service to help you save time and manage tasks big and small. There is no requirement to make a purchase in your requests and no fees are associated with using the concierge's assistance.
- Exclusive Luxury Card Travel® benefits—average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties. Plus, peace of mind protection benefits like trip cancellation and interruption, auto rental car collision waiver, travel accident and baggage delay.
- Members-only LUXURY MAGAZINE®.
- Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard® benefits.
- Annual fee: $195 ($95 for each Authorized User). 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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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
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0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening.
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21.24%, 25.43% or 28.24%
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$195 ($95 for each Authorized User added to the account)
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Excellent
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One step below the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Black Card™ is the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Titanium Card™. Made from brushed stainless steel, it’s pretty to look at and has amazing perks. This card carries a sizable annual fee, but is considerably more affordable than many other exclusive cards on our list.
7. American Express Centurion® Card (The Black Card)
Most everyone has heard of the coveted “Black Card”, but few know that it’s real name is the “Centurion.” This invite-only card is highly coveted and one of the most recognizable cards for big spenders. In addition, this card features:
- Activation fee of $7,000+ and a $2,000+ annual membership fee
- Dedicated concierge, travel agents, and shopping assistance
- Travel perks of one free hotel stay with a booking, flight upgrades, and lounge access
In addition to the massive spending that must occur to be eligible for this card (rumored at $250,000 and up), it is currently not something you can apply for. American Express selects and invites those with high earnings to be part of this cardholder club.
8. The Platinum Card® from American Express
Another exclusive card from Amex, this account offers specially curated perks and member experiences. You’ll enjoy:
- Automatically qualify for Hilton HHonors Gold Status and earn a 5th night free per stay
- Receive preferred seating at games, events, and concerts
- No pre-set spending limit
This Platinum card has a $550 annual fee, which is much lower than the American Express Black Card. Apply here.
This card is currently not available. Additional Disclosure: The information related to Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.9. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
If you fly American Airlines frequently, this is the exclusive card for you. Your membership offers free admission to any Admiral’s Club lounge worldwide. This includes additional cardholders on your account – even if they aren’t with you. Already a lounge member? You might qualify for a statement credit.
Earn bonus miles rewards for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and get your first checked bag free.
10. Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express
Delta flyers will love this card, which boasts 24/7 concierge service and travel assistance. These popular benefits are also included:
- Free Companion ticket upon annual renewal
- Complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club lounge with free snacks, beverages & WiFi
- Free checked first bag for you and up to 8 guests
Apply for this card for frequent fliers at the website. The annual fee for this card is $495.
11. Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card
If only the finest hotel experiences will do, then paying a $450 annual fee for this loyalty credit card shouldn’t be difficult. The very generous perks include:
- Earn an annual $300 travel credit and $100 hotel room credit
- Upgrade to Ritz-Carlton Club level up to 3 times a year on stays up to 7 nights
- Complimentary airport lounge access
Qualified travelers will also get free TSA Pre✓® privileges. Applications are accepted for those with excellent credit and who haven’t had the same card in the past 24 months.
For those that aren’t turned off by the annual fee, there is some serious rewards potential with the American Express® Gold Card. It offers a tiered reward structure with multiple tiers in common spending categories. Earn bonus points on things like groceries and eating out or delivering in. New cardholders also enjoy the benefit of a signup bonus when a purchase threshold is met in the first few months of account ownership.
With personalized travel services, airline and hotel credits, and no foreign transaction fees, this card is perfect for the seasoned traveler.
If You’re Not Platinum Status (Yet), Try These Instead
If you’re not black or titanium card material (or feel that even the Platinum doesn’t match your wardrobe), don’t feel bad. Most of us don’t have champagne tastes, and need something a bit more practical for our credit needs.
The following cards have excellent benefits and are ideal for those with excellent credit. The average Joe will see them do an extraordinary job of balancing perks with practicality.
- SPECIAL OFFER: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Use your card for all your purchases and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned! There is no limit to how much you can earn. Every dollar in cash back rewards you earn is a dollar Chase will match.
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back is just the beginning of what you can earn. You'll enjoy 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
- 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!
- 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, real-time 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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20.49% - 29.24% Variable
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$0
|
Good/Excellent
|
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is appropriately named, as it promises unlimited cash back earnings on every qualified purchase. Plus, earnings never expire! Frequent Amazon shopper? You can link your Chase Freedom Unlimited® to your Amazon account to use your cash back rewards when ordering.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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.
- 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.
- Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem
- 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.
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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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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
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17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
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$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
The Discover it® Cash Back provides an opportunity to earn max cash back at max places. Discover’s rotating quarterly categories include everywhere from gas stations and big-box stores to restaurants and home improvement locations.
15. Chase Freedom Flex℠
This card is currently not available.
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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
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Additional Disclosure: The information related to Chase Freedom Flex℠ credit card has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
The sister card to the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, the original Chase Freedom Flex℠ instead offers rotating cash back categories. If you can keep up with the quarterly offers, this cash back card is hard to beat!
The Best Exclusive Card for You Depends on Many Factors
With so many fantastic credit cards available, your perfect card is likely on this list. What may be exclusive to you, however, may not be appealing to others. That’s why it’s important to carefully study your individual spending patterns, determine the perks you find most valuable, and think about the type of service you expect from a card issuer. Taking time to evaluate all the options is the best way to make sure your credit experience is world-class — each and every time you shop.
Advertiser Disclosure
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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