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Best Credit Cards For Good Credit 2024

Borrowers with good (but not excellent) credit still have plenty of great options for rewards cards with a variety of benefits. Check out our six favorites.
Written by
Luke Daugherty
Last Update on Jan 10, 2024

If you haven’t quite reached the heights of excellent credit, you may think that great credit card rewards are off the table. But, while you may not yet be able to access top-tier rewards cards, there are quite a few options available if you’ve attained a good credit score. 

Many of the best credit cards for good-credit borrowers offer strong cash-back or travel rewards, solid introductory APR periods, and low or no annual fees. Here are the six we like best.

Comparing the 6 Best Credit Cards for Good Credit

CardBest forAnnual feeAPRRewards rateRewards bonus
Chase Freedom Unlimited®Everyday spending$019.74%–28.49%, variable1.5% to 5% by categoryUp to $300
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Simplified Rewards$019.74%–29.74%, variable1.5% to 5% by category$200
Discover it® Cash BackFirst-year bonus$016.99%–27.99%, variable1% to 5% by categoryFirst-year cash-back match
Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardTravel rewards$9521.24%–28.24%, variable1X to 5X points by category60,000 points
American Express Cash Magnet® CardAmEx benefits$018.74%–29.74%, variableUnlimited 1.5% cash back$200
Chase Freedom Flex℠Bonus rewards$019.74%–28.49%, variable1% to 5% by category$200
BEST EVERYDAY WORKHORSE FOR GOOD CREDIT

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Solid 1.5% base rewards rate, plus up to 5% in select categories
Pay no interest on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
Maximize travel rewards through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Credit Rating
Good to Excellent (700+)
Annual fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1.5% to 5%, depending on category
APR
19.74% – 28.49%
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For a simple rewards card with no annual fee and high earning potential, look no further than Chase’s flagship card, Freedom Unlimited®. On top of a strong everyday 1.5% earning rate, you can cash in for 3% on dining and drugstores and 5% on travel booked through Chase. Boost your rewards for up to $300 in bonus earnings in the first year.
Pros:

  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back
  • High potential first-year bonus with no annual fee
  • 15-month 0% intro APR

Cons:

  • High balance transfer fee
  • Must have a companion Chase card to transfer points to travel partners
  • Foreign transaction fee
Additional Details
  • 3% cash back on the first $20,000 you spend in the first year (up to $300 bonus value), or 4.5% on dining and drugstores and 6.5% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Ongoing rewards: 5% on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel, 3% on dining and drugstores, 1.5% on everything else
  • No annual fee
BEST FOR SIMPLIFIED REWARDS

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Unlimited 1.5% cash back makes this a great everyday card
No spending categories to track
Pay no interest on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
Credit Rating
Good to Excellent (700+)
Annual fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1.5% to 5%, depending on category
APR
19.74%–29.74%, variable
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If you’d rather keep the reward-earning game simple and streamlined, the Capital One Quicksilver card is a nice alternative to Chase’s Freedom Unlimited®. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, plus an automatic $200 welcome bonus after you spend only $500 in the first three months.

Pros:

  • Hassle-free rewards with no categories to track
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Easy-to-earn welcome bonus

Cons:

  • Besides Capital One Travel bookings, no opportunity to earn bonus rewards
  • High potential regular APR after 15 months
Additional Details
  • $200 bonus when you spend $500 in first three months
  • No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
  • Unlimited 5% cash back when you book travel through Capital One Travel
  • 0% intro APR on purchases on balance transfers for first 15 months
BEST FIRST-YEAR BONUS FOR GOOD CREDIT

Discover it® Cash Back

High rewards in big spending categories
Generous cash-back match for the first year
Pay no interest on purchases for the first 15 months
Credit Rating
Good to Excellent (700+)
Annual fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1% to 5%, depending on category
APR
16.99%–27.99%, variable
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It takes a bit more work to make the most of the Discover it® Cash Back rewards card, but you can earn sizeable rewards — especially in the first year. Activate and track your spending categories closely to take advantage of a full cash-back match at your one-year anniversary.

Pros:

  • Double your reward earnings in the first year
  • 5% back on key categories like grocery stores, Amazon and restaurants
  • 0% purchase APR for 15 months

Cons:

  • Must track and activate bonus categories
  • Cap on bonus rewards each quarter
  • Must wait 12 months to earn your welcome bonus
Additional Details
  • Automatically get a full cash-back match on your first account anniversary, no matter how much you’ve earned
  • 5% back on $1,500 in combined purchases on quarterly bonus categories, which include Amazon, gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores and more
  • Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • 0% APR for 15 months does not include balance transfers
  • No annual fee
BEST FOR TRAVEL REWARDS FOR GOOD CREDIT

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Generous welcome bonus offer
High reward potential in several key categories for travelers
Boost point value through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Credit Rating
Good to Excellent (700+)
Annual fee
$95
Rewards Rate
1X to 5X points, depending on category
APR
21.24%–28.24%, variable
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Frequent travelers will easily benefit from this high-earning card, despite the modest annual fee. Earn up to $750 in travel rewards in the first three months, then benefit from ongoing 2X to 5X points on key travel categories, which you can redeem for 25% more through Chase.

Pros:

  • Convert 60,000 bonus points to $750 in travel cash by booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Flexible redemption options
  • Travel and shopping protections built in

Cons:

  • Annual fee
  • No intro APR
  • Travel bookings outside Chase don’t earn the highest rewards
Additional Details
  • 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months
  • 5X points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3X points on dining, 2X points on all other travel purchases
  • $50 annual hotel rewards credit
  • Boost point value by 25% when you book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Trip protections include Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Lost Luggage Insurance, and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
  • Activate by Dec. 31, 2024, for complimentary DashPass
BEST FOR AMEX BENEFITS AND REWARDS

American Express Cash Magnet® Card

Unlimited 1.5% cash back
Simple rewards structure with no categories to track
Pay no interest on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
Credit Rating
Good to Excellent (700+)
Annual fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Unlimited 1.5% cash back
APR
18.74%–29.74%, variable
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This card is a solid reward earner for good-credit spenders who want to take advantage of AmEx benefits with no annual fee. Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases, a generous $200 welcome bonus, and 0% APR for the first 15 months.

Pros:

  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases with no categories to track
  • Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
  • Access to AmEx benefits like car rental insurance

Cons:

  • Minimum $25 cash-back redemption
  • No opportunity to boost rewards with bonus categories
  • High 2.7% foreign transaction fee
Additional Details
  • $200 statement credit when you spend $2,000 in the first six months
  • No annual fee
  • 0% intro APR on purchase and balance transfers for the first 15 months
  • No fees for buy now, pay later Plan It plans created in the first 15 months
  • No annual fee
BEST FOR BONUS REWARDS

Chase Freedom Flex℠

High rewards rate on rotating quarterly categories
Generous travel rewards rate when booked through Chase
Pay no interest on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
Credit Rating
Good to Excellent (700+)
Annual fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1% to 5%, depending on category
APR
19.74%–28.49%, variable
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For spenders who want to maximize rewards and don’t mind tracking their spending categories, Chase’s Freedom Flex℠ is a great option. If you keep up with the rotating quarterly categories and book travel through Chase, this card will pay you back in spades.

Pros:

  • 5% rewards on $1,500 in bonus category purchases each quarter
  • High earning potential in other key categories like travel and dining
  • 0% intro APR for balance transfers and purchases

Cons:

  • Low base rewards rate on everyday purchases
  • Cap in bonus rewards earnings each quarter
  • Bonus categories must be tracked and activated each quarter
Additional Details
  • $200 bonus when you spend $500 in the first three months
  • 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined bonus category purchases (categories rotate quarterly and must be activated)
  • 5% back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 3% back on dining and drugstores and 1% back on all other purchases
  • Balance transfer fee applies, even during intro APR period
  • No annual fee

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Constitutes A Good Credit Score?

Lenders employ different scoring models to evaluate your credit, and each model uses a slightly different scoring range. For the most commonly used scoring system, FICO, a score of 670 or above is considered good. The less common model, VantageScore, considers 661 a good credit score.

Which Factors Contribute To A Good Credit Rating?

The two scoring models give different weight to different borrowing behaviors, but both look at your payment history, percentage of credit used, average age of credit accounts, account mix, and recent credit applications. To build good credit, focus on adding a variety of accounts, increasing credit limits over time, and making the minimum required payment on time every month.

How Much Time Is Required To Establish Good Credit?

Your timeline for establishing a good credit history depends on where you’re starting. If you have no previous credit, it usually takes at least six months to build a credit history and score. If you have negative marks on your credit, it may take several years.

How Long Does It Typically Take To Build A 700 Credit Score?

Again, it depends on where you start. If you have no credit history, you may be able to reach 700 within six months by keeping your balance low and making all payments on time and in full. If you’re starting from a poor score (below 580), it may take a few years of good borrowing habits to reach 700.

Luke Daugherty is a freelance writer, editor, and former operations manager. He covers personal finance, operations, marketing, and sustainable business, as well as many of his personal passions. His work, bylined and ghostwritten, has appeared in The Balance, CNET, CIO Magazine, Entrepreneur, and more.