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Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit

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by Sam Lipscomb | Updated Feb. 28, 2023

Overview of the Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit

Individuals with Excellent credit are fortunate enough to qualify for some truly incredible credit card offers. Often including people with FICO scores of over 720, Excellent credit often leads to lower annual percentage rates (APRs), higher credit lines, and unique perks. Some of the best credit cards offered to those with Excellent credit often feature high rewards earning rates and introductory bonuses, primary car rental insurance, airport lounge access, trip delay/cancellation protection, and more! Read on to see some of our top picks for credit cards available for those with Excellent credit. See More



Best Card for Luxury Perks

More Details

  • If you make $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership, you will earn a welcome bonus equal to 100,000 Membership Rewards points
  • Earn 5 points for flights booked with American Express Travel or directly with airlines on up to $500,000 on these purchases per year. Plus, earn 5 points for eligible hotel rooms booked and pre-paid for online through American Express Travel
  • Earn up to $200 in statement credits annually on prepaid The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels + Resorts (requirement of a min. two-night stay) bookings through American Express travel when you use your card
  • Earn up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year with one qualifying airline to cover incidental fees such as baggage fees
  • Annual fee of $695
  • Terms Apply

Annual Fee

$695

Purchase Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Details

The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best luxury cards on the market. With this card, you’ll earn 5x points on airfare booked directly with the airline or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per year. You’ll also earn 5x points on prepaid hotels booked on American Express Travel. Other purchases earn 1x points.

Perks that come with this card include free access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, gold status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, memberships with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Avis Preferred and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive and access to American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts (enrollment required). To top it off, you’ll earn a 100,000 point welcome bonus after making $6,000 in purchases in the first six months.

The benefits continue: Cardholders will all have access to $200 in airline fee credits on an airline of their choice every year (enrollment required). What’s more, there is a $100 statement credit for Global Entry available every four years or an $85 credit for TSA Precheck® available every four and a half years, and you can receive $50 in Saks credits every six months upon enrollment. This card has no foreign transaction fees and a $695 annual fee. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Why We Like It

The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the top cards on the market for those with excellent credit looking for a card with lots of high-end perks. The American Express Membership Rewards points that this card earns are also extremely valuable, and can be used to book travel, offset other purchases and more. If you have excellent credit, the Platinum Card from American Express could be the right card for you.

Best Credit Card for Travel

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  • Earn 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. When you redeem your points for travel through Chase that equals $900!
  • Receive a $300 travel credit each anniversary year to reimburse you for travel purchases charged to your card
  • Earn a total of 5 points on air travel and a total of 10 points on car rentals and hotels when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards immediately after you spend the first $300 on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points on all other travel and when you dine at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and eligible delivery services), and receive 1 point per dollar spent on everything else
  • Points are worth 50% more when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards for Travel
  • Points are worth 50% more with Pay Yourself Back, during the current offer when you redeem for statement credits against purchases already made in select rotating categories
  • One-to-one point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Receive complimentary Priority Pass™ Select Membership to 1,300+ airport lounges after an easy one-time enrollment. Receive an application fee credit of up to $100 for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Receive the benefits of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Lost Luggage Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver and more

Annual Fee

$550

Purchase Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

17.74% - 24.74% Variable

Details

The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns users 10x total points on car rentals and hotels and 5x total points on air travel after you spend the first $300 on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on dining purchases worldwide including takeout and eligible delivery and 3x points on other travel purchases. All other purchases earn 1x points, and if you spend your points on travel through the Chase travel portal, you’ll get a 50% bonus, making one point worth 1.5 cents. You can also earn a 60,000 point early spend bonus after spending $4,000 in your first three months.

The Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee, but the $300 annual travel credit takes the effective annual fee down to $250 if you manage to spend at least $300 every year on travel. You’ll also have access to up to $100 in statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every four years.

Why We Like It

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the best cards out there for those with excellent credit, especially those looking for a heavy hitting travel rewards card. Despite the high annual fee, part of what makes this card so valuable is the versatility of its points. You can redeem them directly for cash back at a value of one cent per point, or against travel purchases on the Chase travel portal, where each point is worth 1.5 cents. You can also transfer miles to a number of airline and hotel loyalty programs to book travel. Plus, the card’s $300 annual travel credit is easy to take advantage of if you’re a frequent traveler.

Best Credit Card for Rewards

More Details

  • Earn 50,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, if you spend $4,000 in purchases with your card
  • Earn 5x ThankYou Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Restaurants
  • Earn 3x ThankYou Points per $1 spent on Cruise Lines and Hotels
  • Earn 1 ThankYou Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Complimentary 4th night stay at any hotel of your choice after a minimum 4-consecutive night booking through ThankYou.com (Terms Apply)
  • Annual $250 Air Travel Credit, to be applied to flight-related expenses charged to your card, including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades, and more
  • Easy points transfer to certain airline loyalty programs
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on Purchases

Annual Fee

$495

Purchase Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

16.99% - 23.99% Variable

Details

The Citi Prestige Card (a SmartAsset advertising partner), like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum, has a large suite of benefits that are designed to help you dine, travel and spend in style while earning valuable Citi ThankYou Points. With this card, you’ll earn 5x points on air travel and restaurants, 3x points on hotels and cruise lines and 1x points on all other purchases. If you book a hotel stay of at least four nights through ThankYou.com, the fourth night will be free. And you’ll have access to hundreds of VIP lounges through Priority Pass Select, which comes with the card. To top it off, you can get a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit on your statement of up to $100 every 5 years. The card does come with a $495 annual fee.

Citi ThankYou Points are similar to both American Express Membership Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points. You can redeem them through Citi itself, or you have the option to transfer them to a variety of airline and hotel partners. Points don’t expire as long as your account is open. On top of all of this, you won’t pay anything in foreign transaction fees.

Why We Like It

The Citi Prestige Card isn’t as well known as some other cards on this list, but is a great option for anyone with excellent credit who is looking for a card that earns lots of points on dining out and travel. What’s more, you can use those points for a variety of things, such as plane tickets, cash back or hotel stays. The lucrative bonus categories make it easy to quickly rack up points. Access to the $250 annual travel credit, 4th night free on hotel stays and VIP lounge access also make it a solid travel rewards credit card. It’s a great option to consider for anyone with excellent credit looking for a rewards card.

Best Credit Card for Cash Back

More Details

  • Receive 2% cash back on all purchases. This breaks down to earning 1% when you buy and another 1% as you pay for those purchases
  • Limited time offer: earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening
  • 0% Intro APR for the first 18 months on Balance Transfers. Afterward, the ongoing variable APR will be 16.99% - 26.99% based on your creditworthiness
  • If a balance is transferred, interest will be charged on purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by your monthly due date
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first four months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5)

Annual Fee

$0

Purchase Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro APR

0% for 18 Months (from date of first transfer, for balance transfers completed within first 4 months)

Regular APR

16.99% - 26.99% Variable

Details

The Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer (a SmartAsset advertising partner) is a simple card. You can earn 2% cash back on all purchases. You’ll earn 1% as you buy, and 1% as you pay your bill. While there’s no annual fee, you also miss out on a few common perks: There isn’t a signup bonus and there are no bonus categories. There’s also a 3% foreign transaction fee.

Why We Like It

While it’s a simple card, the Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer is perfect for anyone with excellent credit who wants to maximize their cash back without having to think much about it. It’s important to pay your bill with this card, as that’s how you take full advantage of the cash-back. Other cards, like the Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases, so those may be a better option if you don’t think you’ll be paying your bill in full. However, it’s hard to beat 2% cash back, and this card should be strongly considered if you have excellent credit.

Best Credit Card for Categorical Cash Back

More Details

  • Receive a one-time early spend bonus of $300 after making $3,000 worth of purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn an unlimited 4% cash back on dining and entertainment purchases, 2% at grocery stores, and 1% on everything else.
  • No need to opt into categories every month, rewards are automatic. There is no limit to the cash back you can earn and cash back won't expire as long as your account is in good standing
  • Pay no foreign transaction fees when traveling abroad
  • Cardholders receive access to next level culinary experiences, some of the biggest concerts, and big-time sporting events
  • Annual fee of $95

Annual Fee

$95

Purchase Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

15.99% - 24.99% Variable

Details

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card gives cardholders 4% cash back on dining and entertainment purchases, 2% cash back at grocery stores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. You can also earn a $300 early spend bonus by spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account. The card carries an annual fee of $95, but there are no foreign transaction fees.

Why We Like It

While the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card does carry an annual fee of $95, it’s still a great option for anyone with excellent credit that spends a good amount on dining and entertainment. The welcome bonus is enough to cover three years of the annual fee, and the cash-back rate on dining and entertainment is very generous given the relatively low annual fee. This card should be considered by anyone with excellent credit who frequently dines out and pays for entertainment.

Methodology

SmartAsset has developed a quantitative and independent system for evaluating the relative value of a credit card offer versus other offers in the marketplace. Our system evaluates cards based exclusively on their features, such as their rewards earning rate (if applicable), fees, perks, and rewards program redemption options. The annual rewards values on this page are calculated using annual spending assumptions in various categories such as, but not limited to, gas, restaurants, airfare, and US supermarkets. These spending assumptions are built on research that SmartAsset has conducted on existing cash back credit cardholders. Our promise with our credit card recommendations is that we will always strive to have the most comprehensive, accurate, and objective method of evaluating credit card offers. Any recommendations are solely determined by the result of this research and model, and is never influenced by any fees, commissions, or other forms of compensation that SmartAsset may receive from credit card issuers for leads generated on our website.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by the credit card issuer. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer.

Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which SmartAsset.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). SmartAsset.com does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

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