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Many credit cards attract new customers by offering high introductory bonuses worth hundreds of dollars, or thousands of points or miles. More important than any welcome offer, however, is how good a credit card is at earning rewards on everyday spending. After all, you only earn a welcome bonus once, but you might carry a particular card for several years and use it on a daily basis.
That's why you want to make sure any credit card you're considering earns the rewards you prefer—whether that's cash back, points or miles—on the things you tend to buy the most. The best credit cards can earn you generous rewards on all of your everyday spending, in addition to other valuable perks.
Here are some of the best credit cards for your everyday spending.
5 Partner Offers
| Our Picks for the Best Credit Cards for Everyday Spending | |
|---|---|
 Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | 2% cash rewards on purchases $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening No annual fee |
 Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases and NULL miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 with the card in the first 3 months from account opening $95 annual fee |
 Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | 1.5% cash back on every purchase 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) $39 annual fee |
 Capital One Platinum Credit Card | No annual fee |
 Credit One Bank® Secured Card | No annual fee 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone service, internet, cable and satellite TV services (terms apply) |
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
If you're looking for a card that will earn you the same amount of cash back on every purchase, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a competitive offer. This card has no annual fee and allows you to earn an unlimited 2% cash rewards rate on purchases. Plus you can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
on Wells Fargo's website
Recommended FICO® Score*
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
APR
19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR
Intro APR
Rewards
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Intro Bonus
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Card Details
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card makes it easy for avid travelers to earn and redeem miles. It accrues 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases and NULL miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. You can redeem points for travel, car rental and more, and also transfer your miles to more than 15 travel loyalty programs. Terms apply. The card does carry a $95 annual fee, though, which means you'll need to earn $95 worth of rewards or more on it per year to recoup that cost.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
on Capital One's website
Recommended FICO® Score*
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
APR
19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
Intro APR
Rewards
2x Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5x Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2x Miles on All Purchases
Intro Bonus
75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$95
Card Details
- 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, vacation rentals 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 $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
A great card for those with average credit, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no rotating categories to keep track of, as well as 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). Among its downsides are a high 29.99% (Variable) APR and a $39 annual fee.
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
on Capital One's website
Recommended FICO® Score*
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
APR
29.99% (Variable)
Intro APR
Rewards
1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day, 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
1.5% Cash Back on All Purchases
Annual Fee
$39
Card Details
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
If you're new to credit or have fair credit, consider using the Capital One Platinum Credit Card for everyday spending. While you won't earn rewards, the card can be a great way to build your credit or pay off a purchase over time. Plus, there is no annual fee, which is a good perk that will save you the cost of a fee every year. You may initially receive a low credit limit, but you can automatically be considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months from account opening. See rates and fees.
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
on Capital One's website
Recommended FICO® Score*
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
APR
29.99% (Variable)
Intro APR
Rewards
None
Annual Fee
$0
Card Details
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
- Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee - and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
Credit One Bank® Secured Card
The Credit One Bank® Secured Card is a secured card that requires a security deposit. The card can be used for everyday spending and could be an effective way to build credit when you pay your bill on time every month. You'll earn 1% cash back on everyday purchases, including eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone service, internet, cable and satellite TV services (terms apply). Since this is a secured card, you're required to make the minimum security deposit of $200 to access an equivalent credit limit.
How to Choose the Best Credit Card
There are some key factors you should consider when trying to choose the best credit card for your needs.
Check the Credit Score Requirements
The highest-earning rewards credit cards require applicants to have excellent credit, so you should review your credit report and score and think about whether you will be eligible for the card you want before applying. If you've just started to build credit, you may want to find out how to get your first credit card.
If you don't know your credit score, you might be able to request it for free from your bank or current credit card issuer. Experian also provides FICO® Scores☉ for free. If necessary, there are ways to improve your credit score, such as cutting down on debt and making all debt payments on time.
Consider the Annual Fee
Many rewards credit cards charge an annual fee. Before you open a card, calculate the amount of rewards you would earn by using it for purchases in a typical year, and make sure the value of those rewards is more than enough to offset the yearly cost.
Review the APR
If you think you might need to carry a balance on purchases with your new card, or transfer balances from another credit card account, you should review the annual percentage rate, or APR.
Some credit cards offer 0% intro APR on purchases, balance transfers, or both, for a period of several months. That means you won't accrue interest on the applicable transactions during that time, and you won't have to pay interest if you pay off your balance before the end of it. However, if you still have a balance at the end of the promotional period, you could incur interest charges on it at a much higher variable rate, so strategize carefully.
Aim for High Welcome Offers
Finally, you might want to aim for a credit card that is offering a welcome bonus, such as rewards points or extra cash back in the form of statement credits. Many introductory offers require you to hit a certain spending requirement, such as $500 in purchases within the first three months (many spending requirements are higher). Just make sure you can reach the required spend responsibly and without racking up debt.
How to Maximize Credit Card Rewards
Once you home in on the right card for your needs, you'll want to make a plan for maximizing its rewards.
Use One Card for Everyday Purchases
The keystone of your credit card strategy should be carrying one card that earns a solid rate of return on everyday purchases so you don't have to take too much time thinking about which card to use at which places. Look for one that earns at least 1.5% cash back on everything.
Look for Bonus Categories
Many rewards credit cards offer what are known as "bonus categories." These are the types of merchants or transactions that earn extra cash back or points, and it's worth picking up a card that offers this type of perk for purchases you make often.
Mix and Match Cards
Over time, you might consider getting both a card that racks up bonus rewards on all purchases and another that earns even higher bonuses in categories where your major expenses are each month. That way, you can maximize your spending even further.
Should I Use My Credit Card for Everything?
Using credit cards to pay for as many of your expenses as possible is a great way to boost your rewards, but you should beware certain pitfalls. On the positive side, using a credit card for everything will help with:
- Earning rewards: Of course, the most obvious benefit of using credit cards for everything is that you will then earn rewards on everything you purchase, which can help you offset some of your costs.
- Convenience and security: It's also easier and safer to use credit cards for purchases than carrying cash since many cards offer built-in security features like $0 fraud liability against unauthorized charges.
- Special financing: If you open a card with a 0% introductory APR on either purchases or balance transfers, you can take advantage of that special financing to pay off large items over time without falling into debt or getting hit with high interest charges.
That said, beware of overextending your purchasing power. If you use your credit card for everything but have trouble paying off your balance on time and in full every month, you could fall into debt, get dinged with late fees and interest charges, and even see your credit score go down over time.
The best credit cards for everyday spending earn rewards on purchases no matter where you use them, and perhaps even bonuses in certain categories. Many also extend welcome offers worth hundreds of dollars, and introductory special financing that can help you pay off purchases or balances responsibly. Before you open a new credit card, review your Experian credit report and your FICO® Score with a free Experian CreditWorksSM account, where you will also be able to see how your score has changed over time. Then check Experian CreditMatch™ for the best current options personalized just for you.