Short Review of Best Credit Cards for Daily Use
Name | Best for | Rewards Rate | Purchase APR | Apply |
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Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Cash Back, 0 APR, No Annual Fee, Restaurants, Entertainment, Daily use | 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.1% Cash Back on all other purchases.3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores. | 19.99% - 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Travel, Daily use | 5x Miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.2x Unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. | 19.99% - 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Cash Back, No Annual Fee, Daily use | 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.1.5% Cash Back on every purchase. | 19.99% - 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Fair credit | 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase. | 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card | | 5% Cash Back on hotel and rental car purchases through Capital One Travel.1.5% Cash Back on every purchase. | 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card | International students | 1.5% Cash Back on all purchases. | 19.99% - 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® | Good credit score | 1.5% Cash Back on payments. | 14.99% - 29.99% Regular | Apply now On Upgrade‘s website |
Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa® | Low income | 3% Cash Back on Home, Auto and Health categories.1% Cash Back on everything else. | 14.99% - 29.99% Regular | Apply now On Upgrade‘s website |
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card | 18 year old | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 9.99% Fixed | Apply now On Applied Bank®‘s site |
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card | | 1% Cash Back rewards on payments. | 14.74% Variable | Apply now On First Progress’s site |
Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card | | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 22.70% Variable | Apply now On Merrick Bank‘s site |
First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card | | 1% Cash Back on payments made to your First Progress Secured credit card account. | 18.74% Variable | Apply now On First Progress’s site |
First Electronic Bank Destiny® Mastercard® | Unsecured | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 35.90% | Apply now On First Electronic Bank‘s site |
Capital One Spark Cash Plus | | 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.2% Cash Back for your business on every purchase. | None * | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit | | 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.1.5% Cash Back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions. | 18.49% - 24.49% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
| | 2x - 7x:Points on restaurants.2x - 5x:Points on hotels.1.5x - 2x:Points on recurring software subscriptions.1x - 1.5x:Points on everything else. | None | Apply now On Cross River Bank‘s site |
| Cash Back, 0 APR, No Annual Fee, Daily use | 5% Cash Back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.3% Cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.3% Cash Back on drugstore purchases.1.5% Cash Back on all other purchases. | 20.49% - 29.24% Variable | Learn more |
| Cash Back, No Annual Fee, Daily use | 2% Cash Back on every purchase with unlimited 1% Cash Back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for purchases. | 19.24% - 29.24% Variable | Learn more |
American Express® EveryDay® Preferred | Honeymoon, Daily use | 3x Points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases.2x Points on gas at U.S. gas stations.1x Points on all other purchases. | 18.24% - 28.24% Variable | Learn more |
American Express Blue Cash Preferred | Gas, Groceries, Streaming services, Daily use | 6% Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).6% Cash Back on streaming (select U.S. streaming subscriptions).3% Cash Back on transit. Transit includes taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more.3% Cash Back at U.S. Gas Stations.1% Cash Back on other purchases. | 18.74% - 29.74% Variable | Learn more |
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express | Daily use | 2x Membership Rewards® Points on the first $50,000 spent in purchases each year, 1x points thereafter. | 18.49% - 26.49% Variable | Learn more |
American Express® Blue Business Cash™ | Daily use | 2% Cash Back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement. | 18.49% - 26.49% Variable | Learn more |
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | Rewards, No Annual Fee, Daily use | 5x Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.1.25x Miles per dollar on all purchases. | 19.99% - 29.99% Variable | Learn more |
| Cash Back, 0 APR, No Annual Fee, Daily use | 5% Cash Back on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate.5% Cash Back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.3% Cash Back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.3% Cash Back on drugstore purchases.1% Cash Back on all other purchases. | 20.49% - 29.24% Variable | Learn more |
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® | Daily use | 1.5% Cash Back rewards on every purchase made for business. | 18.49% - 24.49% Variable | Learn more |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® | Travel, Restaurants, Daily use | $50 Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.5x Points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Anniversary Hotel Credit.3x Points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out.3x Points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).3x Points on select streaming services.2x Points on other travel purchases.1x Point per dollar spent on all other purchases. | 22.49% - 29.49% Variable | Learn more |
| Travel, Restaurants, Daily use | 10x Points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.10x Total points on Chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards®.5x Total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.3x Points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.3x Points on other dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out.1x Point per dollar spent on all other purchases. | 22.49% - 29.49% Variable | Learn more |
Chase Ink Business Preferred® | Without SSN, Daily use | 3x Points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year.1x Point per $1 on all other purchases. | 21.24% - 26.24% Variable | Learn more |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
If ‘dinner-and-movie’ evenings are your thing the Capital One SavorOne will be of great value to you. This card has a 3% cash back rate on dining and entertainment and, as of recently, on popular streaming services and grocery stores too. All other purchases will earn you 1% cash back. New cardmembers can get a $200 sign-up bonus if they spend $500 during the first 3 months upon account opening. It’s also a great card for your next big purchase as it has a long 15-month 0% APR offer on purchases and transfers (after that, your APR will be 19.99% - 29.99%). Many premium experiences, such as VIP tickets, five-star meals, and others, are part of the deal, too. All those great features for a $0 annual fee!
Read more about Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
This card is for those who want to earn miles every time they swipe their credit card. With the Capital One Venture Rewards, they'll get 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases. Additionally, there is a great sign-up bonus of 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after opening the account. Either sign-up bonus will be worth enough to outweigh the $95 annual fee.
Read more about Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
If you want a straightforward, low-maintenance card, the Capital One Quicksilver is the card for you. It has an unlimited 1.5% cash back rate on all purchases and an easily achievable welcome bonus. You’ll get $200 if you spend $500 in the first 3 months. There is no annual fee with this card.
Read more about Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
It won't be true for everyone, but Chase Freedom Unlimited® might be the best card for everyday purchases. It has a great above-average 1.5% cash back rate on all purchases, plus popular bonus categories – travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (5%), dining (3%), and drugstore (3%). Its $200 sign-up bonus is really easy to achieve if you use it every day, the requirement is $500 spent in the first 3 months upon account opening. The redemption options are flexible, and you can redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You can also put a big purchase on this card and take advantage of the 15-month 0% APR offer on purchases and transfers (20.49% - 29.24% variable after that). It’s almost unbelievable that we’re talking about a no-annual-fee card!
Read more about Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Citi Double Cash
If you're not very interested in bonus categories and want to earn generous rewards on every purchase – the Citi Double Cash is the perfect one for this. Its 2% cash back rate on all purchases is the highest flat rate on the market. You will get 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay for it. There is no annual fee to worry about too, just swipe your card any chance you get and enjoy your rewards.
Read more about Citi Double Cash
American Express® EveryDay® Preferred
The American Express® EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card has bonus rates in two common spending categories – U.S. supermarkets (3x points - up to $6,000 annually) and gas (2x points at U.S. gas stations). On all other purchases, you'll get 1 point per dollar spent, and if you use your card 30 or more times during a billing period, you'll get 50% extra points on those purchases. The welcome bonus is 15,000 Membership Rewards points if you spend $2,000 within the first 6 months upon account opening. There is 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (then a variable APR, 18.24% - 28.24%) and a $95 annual fee.
Read more about American Express® EveryDay® Preferred
American Express Blue Cash Preferred
What separates the Blue Cash Preferred® Credit Card from other rewards cards is its superior 6% cash back rate at probably the most popular everyday spending category – supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent annually at U.S. supermarkets). There is a 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, too, and 3% on purchases in two other common categories – transit and gas (at U.S. gas stations). All other purchases will earn you 1% (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit). Furthermore, there is a $350 welcome bonus too, and in order to get it, you are required to spend $3,000 in the first 6 months. The annual fee is $0 intro annual fee for the first year, and after it's $95.
Read more about American Express Blue Cash Preferred
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
The American Express® Blue Business® Plus earns 2x points on every purchase up to $50,000 spent yearly, and 1x point after. The welcome bonus is 15,000 Membership Rewards points with a threshold requirement of $3,000 within the first 3 months. Businesses can also benefit from the 12-month 0% APR offer on purchases (18.49% - 26.49% after that). This card has no annual fee.
Read more about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
American Express® Blue Business Cash™
The Blue Business Cash™ is the sister card of the Blue Business® Plus, the difference is that this one earns you cash back instead of points. Therefore, there is 2% cash back on up to $50,000 spent yearly and 1% after. You can earn a $250 welcome bonus if you spend $3,000 in the first three months. As the Blue Business® Plus, it also comes with the same APR offer (0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, 18.49% - 26.49% after that), and it doesn't have an annual fee too. Currently, there are two Amex offers available with both cards – 50% back on FedEx (up to $1,000) and 30% back on Bloomberg.com purchases (up to $50).
Read more about American Express® Blue Business Cash™
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards card is the no-annual-fee version of the Venture Rewards credit card. This one has a slightly lower rewards rate – 1.25x miles per dollar. The sign-up bonus is 20,000 bonus miles if you spend $500 on purchases during the first 3 months. This card is a better choice for those who aren’t sure they’ll earn enough rewards to justify an annual fee.
Read more about Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Chase Freedom Flex℠
On top of great rewards rates in several popular spending categories, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ also offers 5% cash back in quarterly rotating categories on up to $1,500 spent each quarter. The other rewards are 5% on travel purchased through Chase and Lyft rides, 3% on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% on everything else. You can get the $200 welcome offer by spending $500 in the first 3 months. The card offers a 15-month interest-free period on purchases and transfers (20.49% - 29.24% Variable after) and has no annual fee.
Read more about Chase Freedom Flex℠
Chase Ink Business Unlimited®
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® offers businesses a 1.5% cash back rate on all purchases plus a generous $750 sign-up bonus if they spend $6,000 within the first 3 months after opening the account. We’re sure businesses will appreciate the 12-month 0% APR offer on purchases (18.49% - 24.49% variable after) which is great to finance office purchases interest-free. This card has no annual fee, and you can get a card for each employee at no additional cost.
Read more about Chase Ink Business Unlimited®
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is one of the best premium travel cards, and it will greatly benefit travelers who love dining out, too. With this card, you'll earn 5 points per dollar on travel 3 points on grocery, select streaming services and dining, while all the other purchases earn 1 point. The generous 60,000 points welcome bonus is worth $750 when redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards. To get the bonus new cardholders are required to spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. The card comes with several travel benefits, which make it well worth the $95 annual fee.
Read more about Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
If you think the Sapphire Preferred® is great, wait till you hear about the Sapphire Reserve®. This one will earn you 10x points on hotels, car rentals, Chase dining purchases, 5x points on flights, 3 points on travel and dining and 1 point on everything else. The points earned on this card are worth 50% more when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards. So, the 60,000 points sign-up bonus will be worth $900, and to get it, you will have to spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months. Each anniversary year you’ll be rewarded with $300 in statement credit as reimbursement for travel. However, this card comes with a hefty $550 annual fee, so we only recommend it to the high spenders who are sure they'll spend enough to outset the fee.
Read more about Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Ink Business Preferred®
This great business card from Chase earns valuable rewards in several business categories – 3 points per dollar spent on shipping, advertising, telecommunication services, and travel. The rewards are capped at $150,000 annual spending in combined categories. All other purchases will earn 1 point. After spending $8,000 on purchases within the first 3 months businesses will get the 100,000 welcome bonus, which is $1,000 cash back or $1,250 worth when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards. The card comes with a $95 annual fee.
Read more about Chase Ink Business Preferred®
What to look for in credit cards for everyday use
Needless to say, you have to look for the categories in which you spend the most. Take a look at your monthly statements and check which category appears the most.
Do you live far from work, so you spend a lot of money on gas? In that case consider cards like the Blue Cash Preferred® or the American Express® EveryDay® Preferred, which offer 3% and 2 points on gas purchases, respectively. Those two are also the cards to consider if you’re part of a big household and regularly have a high bill at grocery stores.
The Blue Cash Preferred® has a 6% cash back rate at U.S. supermarkets and the American Express® EveryDay® Preferred 3x points rate (both capped at $6,000 spent annually, then you earn 1% and 1x points, respectively).
If you travel on a regular basis, why not earn some rewards while doing it? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a great 5% cash back rate on travel (if booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards) and no annual fee. Modest travelers should also consider other no-annual-fee cards like the Discover it® Miles, whose miles they can redeem for cash back too if they decide not to travel. Those who travel often and spend a lot might want to think about a premium travel card, like the Chase Sapphire duo.
Finally, if your spending is all over the place, the right card for you will either have quarterly rotating bonus categories or simply a great flat rate on all purchases. It depends on whether you're ready to track categories each quarter and make the most of the card or don't want to be bothered with that.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Discover it® Cash Back both have a 5% cash back rate in different everyday spending bonus categories each quarter. For a flat-rate card, there are many great options too, like the Citi Double Cash (2%) or the Capital One Quicksilver (1.5%).
Pros and cons of credit cards for daily use
Pros
- Rewards – obviously the best thing about credit cards for daily use. You could be earning rewards every day with every swipe.
- Sign-up bonus – if this card is for your daily purchases, then you have great chances of reaching the spending requirement for the welcome bonus.
- Less cash in your pocket – credit cards are safer than cash, and a standard feature of theirs is the zero-fraud liability. That means you'll be protected against any unauthorized use of your card.
- Benefits and protection – You'll find many useful features, like extended warranties, travel insurance, car rental insurance, etc. It's always good to have as many layers of protection as there are available.
Cons
- Impulse purchases – it’s so easy to overspend with a daily credit card. When you pay with cash, you're more aware of the money you're spending, but paying with a credit card is less 'painful.' You don't actually see the money, so there’s a greater possibility to spend more than you should.
- Categories tracking - If you’d rather have a card with bonus categories instead of one with a flat cash back rate, you’ll have to keep track of the categories. Especially if there are quarterly rotating bonus categories, if you’re not being strategic and don’t keep up with the changing categories, you’ll miss out on the rewards.
- Fraud risk – be careful with your card’s details and don’t use them at places you don’t trust and aren’t big brands.
- Cash is (sometimes) king – Although cards are so widely used today, there are still places that won't accept them. You can expect to pay with cash at places like local thrift shops.
How to compare credit cards for everyday use?
If you’ve determined the category in which you spend the most or the type of card you want, it’s time to look more deeply into the card’s other features. First, take into account the annual fee. Even though we’re talking about cards for daily use, make sure you’ll be spending enough to cover it. Then, think about whether there are other benefits you might need. If you’re planning a big purchase or a balance transfer soon, consider cards with intro APR offers on those. If you plan to use your card for purchases outside the U.S., a card with no foreign transaction fee could potentially save you some money.
How to make the most of your credit cards for daily use?
The first rule is to use your card any time you can. Also, try to spend the amount required for the sign-up bonus. These are the two most important things. However, credit cards are known to have many other sweet benefits and perks, like a 0% intro APR offers, first access to event tickets, purchase protection, and many, many others. Read well the card's fine print to make sure you’re taking the advantage of all of its beneficial features.
Having two or more cards is an option too. For example, let's say you do have one category in which you spend a lot, but you also want to earn worthy rewards on all your purchases. What you could do is get a card with a high flat rate (like the Citi Double Cash), plus another one with a high rewards rate in your favorite bonus category.
FAQ
What are other credit cards to consider?
Another great card for everyday use is the
Discover it® Secured Credit Card. It’s a card intended for those with bad credit and offers a 2% cash back rate at gas stations and restaurants.
Should I use my credit card every day?
If you opt to use your credit card for everyday purchases, make sure you only use it for items you normally purchase with your debit card. If you want to avoid paying interest, make sure you can pay off what you're putting on the card on time every month.
How many credit cards should I have?
It's a tricky question. There is no set amount of credit cards that you should hold because everyone's purchasing patterns and needs are different. However, you should definitely start simple, with one credit card. The cards on our list all make for great cards for beginners, too, since you can use them every day. And, once you become a savvy credit card user, getting a second or third card to reap the benefits of numerous rewards is a logical next step in your financial path.