ChaseMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 7291
Chase Freedom UnlimitedVISA
ChaseMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 7276
Chase Freedom FlexMastercard
ChaseStarter
•••• •••• •••• 7288
Chase Freedom RiseVISA
$25 bonus (set up autopay)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee 3%
- 1.5% on all purchases
- Friendly to credit newcomers
- Chase says $250+ in Chase deposits helps
✓ Fees checkedStudent OK
AmexMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 6087
Blue Cash EverydayAMEX
AmexStarter
•••• •••• •••• 9835
Hilton Honors CardAMEX
70,000 Hilton points (confirm with issuer)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 7x Hilton spend
- 5x supermarkets, gas & dining
- No annual fee + Silver status
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
CitiMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 3309
Citi Double CashMastercard
$200 (spend $1,500 in 6 months)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee 3%
- 2% on everything (1% + 1%)
- No annual fee
- Convertible to ThankYou points
✓ Fees checked
Capital OneMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 3312
Capital One SavorMastercard
$200 (spend $500 in 3 months)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 3% dining, entertainment & grocery
- 3% streaming
- No annual fee, no FTF
✓ Fees checkedNone FTFStudent OK
Capital OneMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 3751
Capital One QuicksilverMastercard
$200 (spend $500 in 3 months)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 1.5% on all purchases
- No annual fee, no FTF
- Approachable for fair credit
✓ Fees checkedNone FTFStudent OK
Capital OneStarter
•••• •••• •••• 2347
Capital One PlatinumMastercard
No sign-up bonus
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- No rewards: pure credit building
- Credit-line review after 6 months
- No annual fee
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
Capital OneRebuild
•••• •••• •••• 7821
Quicksilver SecuredMastercard
No bonus (deposit from $200)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 1.5% rewards even on a secured card
- Upgrade path to refund the deposit
- No annual fee
✓ Fees checkedNone FTFSecured
DiscoverMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 6713
Discover it Cash BackDiscover
First-year Cashback Match (doubles all rewards)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 5% rotating quarterly categories
- All year-one rewards doubled
- No annual fee, no FTF
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
DiscoverStarter
•••• •••• •••• 3059
Discover it StudentDiscover
First-year Cashback Match
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- Built for students with little or no credit history
- 5% rotating categories
- No annual fee
✓ Fees checkedNone FTFStudent OK
DiscoverRebuild
•••• •••• •••• 2359
Discover it Secured Cash BackDiscover
Cashback Match at the end of year one (deposit $49, $99 or $200)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- No credit score required to apply
- Refundable deposit from $49 for a $200+ credit line
- No annual fee
✓ Fees checkedNone FTFSecured
Bank of AmericaMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 5493
BofA Customized CashVISA
$200 (spend $1,000 in 90 days)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee 3%
- 3% in a category you choose
- 2% grocery
- Up to 75% boost with BofA assets
✓ Fees checked
Wells FargoMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 8142
Wells Fargo Active CashVISA
$200 (spend $500 in 3 months)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee 3%
- 2% on all purchases
- No annual fee
- Lowest bonus spend threshold
✓ Fees checked
Wells FargoMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 1869
Wells Fargo AutographVISA
20,000 points = $200 (spend $1,000 in 3 months)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 3x dining, travel, gas & streaming
- No annual fee, no FTF
- One of the widest 3x sets
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
Column N.A.Elite
•••• •••• •••• 8456
Bilt Blue CardMastercard
U.S. BankMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 3874
U.S. Bank Cash+VISA
$200 (spend $1,000 in 90 days)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee 3%
- Two 5% categories you choose (first $2,000 combined each quarter)
- 5% on utilities & internet
- No annual fee
✓ Fees checked
U.S. BankMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 7751
U.S. Bank Altitude GoVISA
20,000 points = $200 (spend $1,000 in 90 days)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee 3%
- 4x dining, takeout & delivery on the first $2,000 each quarter
- 2x grocery, gas & streaming
- No annual fee (3% foreign transaction fee)
✓ Fees checked
Goldman SachsStarter
•••• •••• •••• 2465
Apple CardMastercard
No fixed sign-up bonus
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 2% via Apple Pay
- 3% on Apple products
- Best-in-class app experience
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
ChaseMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 7400
Prime VisaVISA
$150 Amazon gift card on approval
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 5% Amazon & Whole Foods
- 2x dining & gas
- No annual fee (Prime required)
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
CitiMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 2856
Costco Anywhere VisaVISA
No sign-up bonus
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 4% gas
- 3% dining & travel
- 2% at Costco (membership required)
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
ZolveRebuild
•••• •••• •••• 4205
Zolve AzpireMastercard
No sign-up bonus
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- Apply with a passport, SSN or ITIN (per Zolve)
- Apply before you land in the U.S.
- Reports to all three bureaus
✓ Fees checkedNone FTFStudent OKPassport/ITIN OKSecured
CitiStarter
•••• •••• •••• 8898
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUpMastercard
15,000 miles + $100 statement credit (spend $500 in 3 months)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee 3%
- 2x miles at grocery stores
- 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 25% off in-flight food & beverage
✓ Fees checked
Stride BankRebuild
•••• •••• •••• 3899
Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder)VISA
No sign-up bonus
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- No credit check, no annual fee, no interest
- With qualifying direct deposits, cash back on a category you choose (5% Prime, 2% Plus, up to $1,500 of purchases)
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
✓ Fees checkedNone FTFSecured
Capital OneStarter
•••• •••• •••• 5773
Capital One Quicksilver StudentMastercard
$50 (spend $100 in 3 months; confirm with issuer)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fee
- Built for students building credit
✓ Fees checkedNone FTFStudent OK
SoFiMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 4710
SoFi Unlimited 2% Credit CardMastercard
$200 (sign-up value; confirm with issuer)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 2% cash back when redeemed into SoFi accounts
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fee
- Invite only for now: you apply with an offer SoFi mailed or emailed you
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
SynchronyMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 2972
PayPal Cashback MastercardMastercard
No fixed sign-up bonus
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee 3%
- 3% cash back on PayPal checkout
- 1.5% cash back on everything else
- No annual fee
✓ Fees checked
SynchronyMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 6042
Venmo Credit CardVISA
No fixed sign-up bonus
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 3% on dining & entertainment, plus 1% when friends split the bill in Venmo
- 3% when you pay with Venmo online, in apps or at businesses on Venmo
- 1% on everything else, paid daily; no annual fee
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
RobinhoodElite
•••• •••• •••• 1569
Robinhood Gold CardVISA
No fixed sign-up bonus (Robinhood Gold required)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee 3%
- 3% cash back on everything
- 5% on travel booked in the Robinhood portal
- No annual fee on the card itself
✓ Fees checked
Elan FinancialMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 7351
Fidelity Rewards Visa SignatureVISA
No sign-up bonus
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 2% cash back deposited into a Fidelity brokerage account
- No annual fee
- Simple flat rate that funds your investments
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
UpgradeStarter
•••• •••• •••• 8765
Upgrade Cash Rewards VisaVISA
$200 (confirm with issuer) after opening a rewards checking account
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee 3%
- 1.5% cash back when you make a payment
- Accessible to fair credit
- Optional Pay Over Time plans for eligible purchases ($100+)
✓ Fees checked
Mission LaneStarter
•••• •••• •••• 2735
Mission Lane VisaVISA
No sign-up bonus
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee 3%
- Designed for fair or rebuilding credit
- No security deposit required
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
✓ Fees checked
Navy FederalMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 6887
Navy Federal cashRewardsVISA
$250 (spend $2,500 in 90 days)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 1.5% cash back on everything (2% with cashRewards Plus if your credit limit is $5,000+)
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fee
- Requires Navy Federal membership (military-affiliated)
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
Navy FederalMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 2595
Navy Federal More Rewards American ExpressAMEX
20,000 points = $200 (spend $2,000 in 90 days)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 3x restaurants, food delivery, supermarkets, gas & transit
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fee
- Requires Navy Federal membership (military-affiliated)
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
PenFedMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 6738
PenFed Power Cash RewardsVISA
$100 (spend $1,500 in 90 days)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 2% flat cash back with Honors Advantage, 1.5% otherwise
- No annual fee
- Requires PenFed credit-union membership (open to all)
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
USAAMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 9965
USAA Preferred Cash RewardsVISA
$200 (spend $1,000 in 90 days)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 1.5% flat cash back on all purchases
- No annual fee
- Requires USAA membership (military & families)
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
Bank of AmericaMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 6237
Bank of America Travel RewardsVISA
25,000 points = $250 in travel (spend $1,000 in 90 days)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 1.5x points on all purchases
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fee
- Up to 2.625x with BofA Rewards Premier status ($1M+ combined balance)
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
Capital OneMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 9775
Capital One VentureOne RewardsVISA
20,000 miles (spend $500 in 3 months)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 1.25x miles on every purchase
- 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No foreign transaction fees
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF
DiscoverMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 6761
Discover it ChromeDiscover
Cashback Match doubles all cash back earned in the first year
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 combined each quarter
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
None FTF
CitiStarter
•••• •••• •••• 7060
Citi SimplicityMastercard
No sign-up bonus; long 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee 3%
- 0% intro APR for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers
- No late fees, no penalty APR, and no annual fee ever
- One of the longest interest-free windows available
✓ Fees checked
Wells FargoStarter
•••• •••• •••• 9782
Wells Fargo ReflectVISA
No sign-up bonus; one of the longest 0% intro APR periods available
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee 3%
- 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 21 months
- No annual fee
- Cellphone protection when you pay your bill with the card
U.S. BankMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 6467
U.S. Bank Altitude ConnectVISA
20,000 points (spend $1,000 in 90 days)
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 5x prepaid hotels and car rentals booked in the Travel Center
- 4x travel; 4x gas and EV charging on the first $1,000 each quarter
- 2x dining, streaming and groceries; no annual fee
None FTF
ChaseMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 4975
United Gateway Card (Chase)VISA
50,000 miles: 40,000 after $1,000 in 3 months, plus 10,000 for adding an authorized user
Annual fee No fee
Foreign transaction fee None
- 2x miles on United purchases, gas, and transit
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- 25% back on United inflight purchases
✓ Fees checkedNone FTF