Best Unsecured Credit Cards Of May 2024

If you want versatile and valuable travel rewards but can’t afford a premium annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great place to start. The card offers a sizable welcome bonus plus solid rewards on everyday purchases. When it’s time to redeem your points, you’ll get more value if you use them to book travel through Chase Travel℠. Alternatively, you can transfer your rewards to one of Chase’s many airline and hotel transfer partners, usually at a 1:1 value.

Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $95

Other benefits and drawbacks: The card offers up to $50 in annual statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays booked through Chase. You’ll also get perks, such as statement credits, bonus rewards and complimentary subscriptions with several partners, including DoorDash, Instacart and Lyft.

When you travel, take advantage of the card’s various protections, including primary auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement. You’ll also get purchase protection and extended warranty protection when you use the card to shop.

Although the card’s rewards program is one of the best out there, its low base rewards rate and lack of premium travel perks could leave some travel enthusiasts wanting more.

If you regularly fly United Airlines or you’re looking for a frequent flyer program with solid domestic and international options, consider the United Club℠ Infinite Card. The premium airline credit card has a steep annual fee, but it offers United Club lounge access, discounts on United Economy Saver Awards, free checked bags, preferential treatment at the airport and even a path to elite status for big spenders.

Rewards: Earn 4 miles per dollar on United® purchases, 2 miles per dollar on all other travel, on dining including eligible delivery services and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $525

Other benefits and drawbacks: In addition to various perks you’ll get when you fly United, the card offers a one-year complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership. You’ll also enjoy various insurance protections, including primary auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, purchase protection, return protection and extended warranty protection.

Unlike general travel rewards programs, however, your United MileagePlus miles are less flexible. It only makes sense to get this card if you want to go all-in on United.

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card* gives you access to one of the largest hotel chains in the world, ranging from budget hotels to luxury resorts. The card offers high rewards rates, making it easy to rack up Bonvoy points, and you’ll get an automatic free night certificate each year after your account anniversary, worth up to 35,000 points, automatic silver elite status and a path to gold elite status.

Rewards: Earn 6 points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3 points per dollar spent each year (up to $6,000) on combined grocery stores, gas stations and dining purchases and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee: $95

Other benefits and drawbacks: The card offers a one-year complimentary DashPass membership, as well as baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement and purchase protection.

Like other co-branded travel credit cards, however, your rewards are inflexible — it really only makes sense to redeem them for hotel stays with Marriott. While you can transfer your Bonvoy points to more than 30 different airlines, you won’t get a lot of value redeeming your rewards that way due to a subpar 3-to-1 transfer ratio.

If you frequently travel to Canada or want a credit card with other international options, consider the Aeroplan® Credit Card. The credit card offers excellent rewards rates, preferred award flight pricing, free checked bags, a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee credit and automatic elite status your first year plus ongoing status when you meet spending requirements.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining, takeout and eligible delivery services, grocery stores and each dollar spent directly with Air Canada including vacations and cruises and 1 point per dollar for all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.

Annual fee: $95

Other benefits and drawbacks: Cardholders will get a one-year complimentary DashPass subscription when they enroll by 12/31/24. Additionally, if you have a Chase Ultimate Rewards credit card that allows transfers, you’ll get a 10% bonus on transfers to your Aeroplan account if you transfer 50,000 or more Ultimate Rewards points in a single transaction.

Other benefits include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement and purchase protection.

You’ll also get a bit more flexibility with redemptions through the Pay Yourself Back feature, which offers 1.25 cents per point when you redeem rewards for statement credits on eligible travel purchases through June 30, 2024. If you want flexibility after that, though, you may prefer a general travel rewards card.

If you want a premium travel credit card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) is a solid choice regardless of your budget. While its list of perks isn’t as comprehensive as what you’d get with The Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply, see rates & fees), it makes it easy for cardholders to make up for its annual fee every year. If you’re looking for airport lounge access, a high flat rewards rate on everything and other valuable travel perks, you can’t go wrong with this card. It also has arguably the most flexible redemption options among travel programs, allowing you to use miles to book travel with Capital One or get a statement credit on travel purchases made with your card. You can also transfer rewards to one of the bank’s airline or hotel partners.

Rewards: Earn 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel.

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee: $395

Other benefits and drawbacks: Each year, you’ll get a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus and $300 in credits for Capital One Travel bookings. You’ll also get access to both airport lounges with the Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass and Plaza Premium networks.

For a better airport experience, you can get up to a $100 credit toward a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. Insurance perks include cellphone protection, primary auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, return protection and extended warranty protection.

That said, if you’re looking for even more premium travel perks, you may want to consider other options.

Like Marriott, IHG is one of the largest hotel chains in the world, giving you plenty of opportunities to use your IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card rewards and benefits. In addition to several ways to rack up IHG Rewards points, you’ll also get an anniversary free night worth up to 40,000 points and platinum elite status.

Rewards: Earn up to 26 points per dollar spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, 5 points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants and 3 points on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $99

Other benefits and drawbacks: Each time you redeem three consecutive nights at an IHG property, you’ll get your fourth night free. You’ll also earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points when you spend $20,000 in a calendar year, as well as an application fee credit toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS.

Insurance protections include baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption insurance and purchase protection. The card also comes with a one-year complimentary DashPass subscription.

As with Marriott Bonvoy points, however, IHG Rewards points are somewhat inflexible, so the card may not make a lot of sense unless you’re loyal to IHG.

The Discover it® Cash Back offers the chance to earn a high rewards rate on spending categories that rotate every few months when you activate them. What’s more, the card issuer will match all the cash back you earn during your first year. While that’s not a traditional welcome bonus, there’s no limit to how much you can earn, making it an excellent option for big spenders.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter up to a quarterly maximum of $1,500 in spending when activated. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.

Welcome offer: Earn Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first year as a cardmember. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: In addition to a welcome bonus, new cardholders will also get a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and eligible balance transfers. Then, a standard rate of 17.24% - 28.24% variable applies. A balance transfer fee of up to 5% of the amount transferred applies.

The primary drawback of the card is its low base rewards rate. Additionally, while Discover doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, it’s not widely accepted internationally, so you’ll want to have a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card as a backup.

Like the Discover it® Cash Back, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers standout rewards on quarterly rotating bonus categories when you activate them. That said, you’ll also earn accelerated rewards on other everyday spending categories, giving you even more flexibility with your rewards. The card’s welcome bonus is decent and doesn’t require a lot of spending to earn it.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: New cardholders will get a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% applies. Balance transfer fee of up to 5% (min. $5) of the amount of each transfer applies.

The card offers several benefits with select partners, including DoorDash, Instacart, Lyft and ShopRunner. You can also take advantage of some insurance protections, including auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, cellphone protection and extended warranty protection.

That said, if you use the Freedom Flex as your everyday spending card, it’s likely that most of your purchases will earn the card’s mediocre 1% base rewards rate.

If you want the chance to earn bonus rewards on certain purchases while also earning a higher rate on non-bonus spending, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® could be a good fit. This card may be particularly useful if you don’t want to use multiple credit cards to maximize your rewards on all of your everyday purchases.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases, plus an additional 1.5% cash back on the first $20,000 in purchases the first year.

Welcome offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 spent in the first year, worth up to $300 cash back.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: When you open an account, you’ll get a 0% introductory APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% applies. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies in the first 60 days of account opening. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer applies.

The card also offers perks with DoorDash, Lyft and Instacart, though you won’t get the same benefits with ShopRunner that the Freedom Flex offers. Insurance protections include auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, trip cancellation and interruption insurance and extended warranty protection.

If you want a simpler approach to rewards and have fair credit, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) should be on your radar. The card offers a decent rewards rate on every purchase you make, though it also charges a modest annual fee.

Rewards: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply).

Welcome offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.

Annual fee: $39

Other benefits and drawbacks: With responsible use, you’ll be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months. Beyond that, the card doesn’t offer a welcome bonus or other notable features.