WalletHub’s proprietary 100-point credit card rating system evaluates cards for each major cardholder “need” the card is applicable to – from building credit to maximizing rewards. More specifically, we identified 26 different cardholder needs that are representative of different users’ financial priorities and behaviors. Given that each group has different goals and is likely to use their credit cards differently, they have been scored differently, using different metrics. When a card meets eligibility criteria for two or more needs, it is scored for all needs but we will predominantly display the score for the need to which the card is best suited. For example, if a card offers elite rewards and a 0% intro APR for 6 months, the card will be scored both as a rewards card and as a means of financing new purchases, but only the rewards score will be predominantly displayed.
To evaluate each need, WalletHub uses 21 key metrics grouped into three major components: Editor’s Rating, User Reviews and Market Comparison. The Market Comparison component measures how appealing the fees, rewards, cost, APR and other features of a card are compared to a pool of over 1,500 credit card offers monitored by WalletHub. Each component has a maximum number of points allocated to it, based on the its importance as determined by our editors, and the points are added up for each card to create an overall rating with a maximum score of 100 points.
Ratings for each category reflect how close a credit card offer is to WalletHub’s definition of a top-rated credit card, which is based on market conditions and what we believe are reasonable terms. We compare credit card offers to that standard to give a numerical approximation of how reasonable and competitive the credit card is compared to others. If a card does not match any of the needs we defined, then it is not scored.
Below, please find a high-level version of the scoring rubric used to evaluate credit card offers and produce WalletHub’s credit card ratings by cardholder need. Please also keep the following notes in mind.
- All metrics for which we are not able to find data receive a score of “N/A.” If a metric receives a rating of N/A, it is subtracted from the maximum point total.
- We included bonus-point categories and penalty-point categories to account for specific features or deficits cards might have. The bonus points are added to the 100-point scoring system, but the final rating is converted into a 5-point scale for consistency purposes. The penalties are used to subtract points from the total accumulated.
- Bonus-point categories include: “Rotating Categories,” “Partially Secured” and “No Credit Check Needed.” Rotating Categories cannot be properly accounted for in “Two-Year Cost” due to their unpredictability, earning caps and quarterly sign-up requirement. To avoid severely penalizing cards with such a rewards structure, we added bonus points to those cards. “Partially secured” and “no credit check” are unique features that very few cards have, so we added bonus points for these categories to give eligible cards extra credit.
- Penalty-point categories include: “Limited Redemption” and “Store Card.” Co-branded cards tend to offer above-average rewards, but they are limited in terms of how these rewards can be used (typically, you can only redeem rewards at a competitive value for purchases with the associated brand). Similarly, store cards are very lucrative as long as you are fine with using these just at one particular store. In order to account for these limitations, we have introduced these two penalty-point categories.
- When fees or other terms are presented as a range, we use the midpoint for scoring purposes.
- “Two-year Cost” is calculated by combining annual and monthly membership fees over two years, adding any one-time fees or other fees (like balance transfer fees), adding any interest costs, and subtracting rewards. Negative amounts indicate savings. Scores are assigned linearly, with the lowest costs/most savings receiving the most points.
- “Two-year Interest Cost” is determined by applying the interest rate charges a user would incur over two years on a purchase or a balance along with any balance transfer costs.
- Rewards bonuses and credits have been taken into account for two-year cost calculations. However, bonuses applicable to only a very small portion of cardholders are not considered. For example, credits and bonuses awarded for spending or redeeming rewards through a company portal with non-co-branded cards have not been taken into account. Similarly, bonuses and credits related to spending with specific merchants using an otherwise generic, non-co-branded card have not been taken into account (for example if Card A offered credits with DoorDash, this has not been included because it is hard to assess how many cardholders would be using this benefit or if they would use it in full).
- For each cardholder need, we have assumed a specific amount of monthly spending by purchase type (e.g. groceries, gas, etc.), as well as an average balance, balance transfer amount, amount spent on large purchases and average monthly payment. Spending assumptions are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for consumers and PEX data for businesses.
- The metric “Secondary Benefits” (under category Other Features) refers to unique perks users receive with the use of their card. They are usually high-end perks offered on elite cards, such as lounge access, free snacks and drinks and free access to hotel amenities.
- If a card cannot be used outside the U.S., it gets 0 points for metrics involving foreign transaction fees.
Scoring Rubrics by "Need"
- Rebuild Damaged Credit
- Rebuild Damaged Credit (Store Cards)
- Rebuild Damaged Credit by Paying in Full Each Month
- Improve Credit
- Improve Credit by Paying in Full Each Month
- Build Credit (Students)
- Build Credit by Paying in Full Each Month (Students)
- Earn Rewards
- Earn Travel Rewards
- Earn Airline Rewards
- Earn Hotel Rewards
- Earn Gas Rewards
- Earn Rewards (Store Cards)
- Finance New Purchases
- Finance New Purchases (Store Cards)
- Lower Cost of Existing Debt
- Business - Rebuild Damaged Credit
- Business - Rebuild Damaged Credit by Paying in Full Each Month
- Business - Improve Credit
- Business - Improve Credit by Paying in Full Each Month
- Business - Earn Rewards
- Business - Earn Travel Rewards
- Business - Earn Rewards (Store Cards)
- Business - Finance New Purchases
- Business - Finance New Purchases (Store Cards)
- Business - Lower Cost of Existing Debt
Rebuild Damaged Credit
Eligible cards: Personal credit cards that accept bad credit (excluding charge cards and store cards)
Spending profile used: Average consumer with less than good credit
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 116 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to rebuild credit at a low cost:
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Initial Bonus
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Secondary Benefits
- Store Cards
Rebuild Damaged Credit (Store Cards)
Eligible cards: Personal store credit cards that accept bad credit (excluding charge cards)
Spending profile used: Average consumer with less-than-good credit using a store card
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 116 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to rebuild credit at a low cost:
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Initial Bonus
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Secondary Benefits
- Store Cards
Rebuild Damaged Credit by Paying in Full Each Month
Eligible cards: Personal store credit cards that accept bad credit (excluding charge cards)
Spending profile used: Average consumer with less-than-good credit using a store card
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 117 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to rebuild credit at a low cost:
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Initial Bonus
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Secondary Benefits
- Store Cards
Improve Credit
Eligible cards: Personal credit cards that accept no credit on fair credit (excluding charge cards)
Spending profile used: Average consumer with less than good credit
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 95 points
- Fees - up to 10 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) - up to 7 points
- Total One-time Fees - up to 3 points
-
Rewards – up to 12 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) - up to 7 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 points
- Limited Redemption (penalty points category) – subtract 10 points
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
APR - up to 13 points
- Regular APR - up to 8 points
- Intro APR on Purchases - up to 3 points
- Deferred Interest - up to 2 points
-
Other Features – up to 20 points
- Security Deposit – up to 2 points
- Partially Secured (bonus points category) – up to 10 points
- Minimum Credit Line – up to 3 points
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus – up to 5 points
- Store Card (penalty points category) – subtract 15 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to improve credit at a low cost:
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Initial Bonus
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- No Credit Check Needed
- Secondary Benefits
Improve Credit by Paying in Full Each Month
Eligible cards: Personal credit cards that accept no credit on fair credit (excluding charge cards)
Spending profile used: Average consumer with less than good credit
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 95 points
- Fees - up to 20 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) - up to 15 points
- Total One-time Fees - up to 5 points
-
Rewards - up to 15 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) - up to 10 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 points
- Limited Redemption (penalty points category) – subtract 10 points
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
Other Features – up to 20 points
- Security Deposit – up to 2 points
- Partially Secured (bonus points category) – up to 10 points
- Minimum Credit Line – up to 3 points
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus – up to 5 points
- Store Card (penalty points category) – subtract 15 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to improve credit at a low cost:
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Initial Bonus
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- No Credit Check Needed
- Secondary Benefits
Build Credit (Students)
Eligible cards: Student credit cards that accept no credit or fair credit
Spending profile used: Student
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 85 points
- Fees - up to 7 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) - up to 5 points
- Foreign Transaction Fee - up to 2 points
-
Rewards - up to 19 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) - up to 10 points
- Initial Bonus - up to 4 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 points
- Limited Redemption (penalty points category) – subtract 10 points
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
APR - up to 11 points
- Regular APR - up to 8 points
- Intro APR on Purchases - up to 3 points
-
Other Features – up to 8 points
- Minimum Credit Line – up to 3 points
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus – up to 5 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to help students build their credit at a low cost:
- Total One-time Fees
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- No Credit Check Needed
- Secondary Benefits
- Store Card
Build Credit by Paying in Full Each Month (Students)
Eligible cards: Student credit cards that accept no credit or fair credit
Spending profile used: Student
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 85 points
- Fees - up to 12 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) - up to 10 points
- Foreign Transaction Fee - up to 2 points
-
Rewards - up to 25 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) – up to 15 points
- Initial Bonus – up to 5 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 points
- Limited Redemption (penalty points category) – subtract 10 points
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
Reviews - up to 10 points
-
Other Features – up to 8 points
- Minimum Credit Line – up to 3 points
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus – up to 5 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to help students build their credit at a low cost:
- Total One-time Fees
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- No Credit Check Needed
- Secondary Benefits
- Store Card
Earn Rewards
Eligible cards: Personal credit cards, student cards or charge cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer rewards (excluding store cards)
Spending profile used: Average consumer
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 85 points
- Fees - up to 12 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) – up to 9 points
- Foreign Transaction Fee – up to 3 points
-
Rewards - up to 30 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) - up to 17 points
- Initial Bonus - up to 8 points
- Initial Bonus (Value) - up to 6.4 points
- Initial Bonus (Spending per month) - up to 1.6 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 points
- Limited Redemption (penalty points category) – subtract 15 points
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
-
Other Features – up to 3 points
- Secondary Benefits – up to 3 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to pay the balance in full monthly in order to maximize rewards:
- Total One-time Fees
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Store Card
Earn Travel Rewards
Eligible cards: Personal credit cards, student cards or charge cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer rewards on travel (excluding store cards)
Spending profile used: Traveler
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 85 points
- Fees - up to 12 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) – up to 9 points
- Foreign Transaction Fee – up to 3 points
-
Rewards - up to 30 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) – up to 17 points
- Initial Bonus – up to 8 points
- Initial Bonus (Value) – up to 6.4 points
- Initial Bonus (Spending per month) – up to 1.6 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 points
- Limited Redemption (penalty points category) – subtract 15 points
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
Other Features – up to 3 points
- Secondary Benefits – up to 3 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to pay the balance in full monthly in order to maximize rewards:
- Total One-time Fees
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Store Card
Earn Airline Rewards
Eligible cards: Cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer rewards on airline purchases (excluding store cards)
Spending profile used: Heavy spending on airlines
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 85 points
- Fees – up to 12 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) – up to 9 points
- Foreign Transaction Fee – up to 3 points
-
Rewards – up to 30 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) – up to 17 points
- Initial Bonus – up to 8 points
- Initial Bonus (Value) – up to 6.4 points
- Initial Bonus (Spending per month) – up to 1.6 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 point
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
Other Features – up to 3 points
- Secondary Benefits – up to 3 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to pay the balance in full monthly in order to maximize rewards:
- Total One-time Fees
- Limited Redemption
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Store Card
Earn Hotel Rewards
Eligible cards: Cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer rewards on hotels (excluding store cards)
Spending profile used: Heavy spending on hotels
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 85 points
- Fees – up to 12 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) – up to 9 points
- Foreign Transaction Fee – up to 3 points
-
Rewards – up to 30 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) – up to 17 points
- Initial Bonus – up to 8 points
- Initial Bonus (Value) – up to 6.4 points
- Initial Bonus (Spending per month) – up to 1.6 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 point
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
Other Features – up to 3 points
- Secondary Benefits – up to 3 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to pay the balance in full monthly in order to maximize rewards:
- Total One-time Fees
- Limited Redemption
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Store Card
Earn Gas Rewards
Eligible cards: Cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer rewards on gas purchases
Spending profile used: Heavy spending on gas
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 85 points
- Fees – up to 12 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) – up to 9 points
- Foreign Transaction Fee – up to 3 points
-
Rewards – up to 30 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) – up to 17 points
- Initial Bonus – up to 8 points
- Initial Bonus (Value) – up to 6.4 points
- Initial Bonus (Spending per month) – up to 1.6 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 point
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
Other Features – up to 3 points
- Secondary Benefits – up to 3 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to pay the balance in full monthly in order to maximize rewards:
- Total One-time Fees
- Limited Redemption
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Store Card
Earn Rewards (Store Cards)
Eligible cards: Personal store credit cards or charge cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer rewards
Spending profile used: Average consumer usage on a store card
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 85 points
- Fees - up to 12 points
-
Rewards - up to 30 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) - up to 17 points
- Initial Bonus - up to 8 points
- Initial Bonus (Value) up to 6.4 points
- Initial Bonus (Spending per month) - up to 1.6 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) - up to 5 points
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
Other Features – up to 3 points
- Secondary Benefits – up to 3 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to pay the balance in full monthly in order to maximize rewards:
- Total One-time Fees
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Limited Redemption
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Store Card
Finance New Purchases
Eligible cards: Personal credit cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer intro APR on new purchases (excluding store and charge cards)
Spending profile used: One big purchase ($5,000) followed by fixed monthly payments ($225) for 24 months with no other monthly spending.
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 80 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to take advantage of an intro APR for one large purchase:
- Total One-time Fees
- Rotating Categories
- Limited Redemption
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to all 3 major bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Secondary Benefits
- Store Card
Finance New Purchases (Store Cards)
Eligible cards: Personal store credit cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer intro APR on new purchases (excluding charge cards)
Spending profile used: One big purchase ($2,500) followed by fixed monthly payments ($113) for 24 months, with no other spending.
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 80 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to take advantage of an intro APR for one large purchase:
- Total One-time Fees
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Rotating Categories
- Limited Redemption
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to all 3 major bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Secondary Benefits
- Store Card
Lower Cost of Existing Debt
Eligible cards: Personal credit cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer an intro APR on balance transfers (excluding store and charge cards)
Spending profile used: One balance transfer ($5,000) followed by fixed monthly payments ($225) for 24 months, with no other spending.
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 80 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to take advantage of an intro APR for a balance transfer:
- Total One-time Fees
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average)
- Initial Bonus
- Rotating Categories
- Limited Redemption
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to all 3 major bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Secondary Benefits
- Store Card
Business - Rebuild Damaged Credit
Eligible cards: Business credit cards that accept bad credit (excluding charge cards and store cards)
Spending profile used: Average business with less than good credit
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 116 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to rebuild credit at a low cost:
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Initial Bonus
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Secondary Benefits
- Store Cards
Business - Rebuild Damaged Credit by Paying in Full Each Month
Eligible cards: Business credit cards that accept bad credit (excluding charge cards and store cards)
Spending profile used: Average business with less than good credit
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 117 points
- Fees - up to 20 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) - up to 14 points
- Total One-time Fees - up to 6 points
-
Rewards - up to 7 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) – up to 5 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 2 points
- Limited Redemption (penalty points category) – subtract 5 points
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
Reviews - up to 10 points
-
Other Features – up to 50 points
- Security Deposit – up to 4 points
- Partially Secured (bonus points category) – up to 10 points
- Minimum Credit Line – up to 3 points
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus – up to 8 points
- No Credit Check Needed (bonus points category) – up to 25 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to rebuild credit at a low cost:
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Initial Bonus
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Secondary Benefits
- Store Cards
Business - Improve Credit
Eligible cards: Business credit cards that accept no credit on fair credit (excluding charge cards)
Spending profile used: Average business with less than good credit
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 95 points
- Fees - up to 20 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) – up to 15 points
- Total One-time Fees – up to 5 points
-
Rewards - up to 15 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) - up to 10 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 points
- Limited Redemption (penalty points category) – subtract 10 points
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
Other Features – up to 20 points
- Security Deposit – up to 2 points
- Partially Secured (bonus points category) – up to 10 points
- Minimum Credit Line – up to 3 points
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus – up to 5 points
- Store Card (penalty points category) – subtract 15 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to improve credit at a low cost:
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Initial Bonus
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- No Credit Check Needed
- Secondary Benefits
Business - Improve Credit by Paying in Full Each Month
Eligible cards: Business credit cards that accept no credit on fair credit (excluding charge cards)
Spending profile used: Average business with less than good credit
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 95 points
- Fees - up to 20 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) - up to 15 points
- Total One-time Fees - up to 5 points
-
Rewards - up to 15 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) - up to 10 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 points
- Limited Redemption (penalty points category) – subtract 10 points
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
Other Features – up to 20 points
- Security Deposit – up to 2 points
- Partially Secured (bonus points category) – up to 10 points
- Minimum Credit Line – up to 3 points
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus – up to 5 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to improve credit at a low cost:
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Initial Bonus
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- No Credit Check Needed
Business - Earn Rewards
Eligible cards: Business credit cards or charge cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer rewards (excluding store cards)
Spending profile used: Average business
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 85 points
- Fees - up to 12 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) - up to 9 points
- Foreign Transaction Fee – up to 3 points
-
Rewards - up to 30 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) – up to 17 points
- Initial Bonus – up to 8 points
- Initial Bonus (Value) – up to 6.4 points
- Initial Bonus (Spending per month) – up to 1.6 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 points
- Limited Redemption (penalty points category) – subtract 15 points
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
Other Features – up to 3 points
- Secondary Benefits – up to 3 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to pay the balance in full monthly in order to maximize rewards:
- Total One-time Fees
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Store Card
Business - Earn Travel Rewards
Eligible cards: Business credit cards or charge cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer rewards on travel (excluding store cards)
Spending profile used: Business traveler
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 85 points
- Fees - up to 12 points
- Annual Membership Fees (2-year average) – up to 9 points
- Foreign Transaction Fee – up to 3 points
-
Rewards - up to 30 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) – up to 17 points
- Initial Bonus – up to 8 points
- Initial Bonus (Value) – up to 6.4 points
- Initial Bonus (Spending per month) – up to 1.6 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 points
- Limited Redemption (penalty points category) – subtract 15 points
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
Other Features – up to 3 points
- Secondary Benefits – up to 3 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to pay the balance in full monthly in order to maximize rewards:
- Total One-time Fees
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Store Card
Business - Earn Rewards (Store cards)
Eligible cards: Business store credit cards or charge cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer rewards
Spending profile used: Average business usage on a store card
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 85 points
- Fees - up to 12 points
-
Rewards - up to 30 points
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average) – up to 17 points
- Initial Bonus – up to 8 points
- Initial Bonus (Value) up to 6.4 points
- Initial Bonus (Spending per month) – up to 1.6 points
- Rotating Categories (bonus points category) – up to 5 points
-
Two-Year Cost – up to 40 points
- Two-year Cost (negative amounts indicate savings) – up to 40 points
-
Other Features – up to 3 points
- Secondary Benefits – up to 3 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to pay the balance in full monthly in order to maximize rewards:
- Total One-time Fees
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Limited Redemption
- Two-year Interest Cost
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Deferred Interest
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to All 3 Major Bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Store Card
Business - Finance New Purchases
Eligible cards: Business credit cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer intro APR on new purchases (excluding store and charge cards)
Spending profile used: One big purchase ($23,500) followed by fixed monthly payments ($900) for 24 months with no other monthly spending.
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 80 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to take advantage of an intro APR for one large purchase:
- Total One-time Fees
- Rotating Categories
- Limited Redemption
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to all 3 major bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Secondary Benefits
- Store Card
Business - Finance New Purchases (Store Cards)
Eligible cards: Business store credit cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer intro APR on new purchases (excluding charge cards)
Spending profile used: One big purchase ($11,750) followed by fixed monthly payments ($450) for 24 months with no other monthly spending.
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 80 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to take advantage of an intro APR for one large purchase:
- Total One-time Fees
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Rotating Categories
- Limited Redemption
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to all 3 major bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Secondary Benefits
Business - Lower Cost of Existing Debt
Eligible cards: Business credit cards that accept good or excellent credit and offer intro APR on balance transfers (excluding store and charge cards)
Spending profile used: One balance transfer ($23,500) followed by fixed monthly payments ($900) for 24 months with no other monthly spending.
Editor’s Rating - up to 13 points
User Reviews - up to 7 points
Market Comparison - up to 80 points
Not considered for this need, as the goal is to take advantage of an intro APR for a balance transfer:
- Total One-time Fees
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Ongoing Rewards Value (2-year average)
- Initial Bonus
- Rotating Categories
- Limited Redemption
- Regular APR
- Intro APR on Purchases
- Intro APR on Balance Transfers
- Security Deposit
- Partially Secured
- Minimum Credit Line
- Reports to all 3 major bureaus
- No Credit Check Needed
- Secondary Benefits
- Store Card
