Find Your Ideal Credit Card Today

All credit cards fall under the following main categories:

• Rewards cards: accrues rewards like cashback, travel miles, or store discounts.
• Business credit cards: for business expenses, with cashback and travel rewards.
• Student credit cards: for young people with zero or limited credit history.
• Store credit cards: for retail spending, to be repaid over time.
• Secured credit cards: for people building or rebuilding credit, they require putting money down as collateral.
• Co-branded credit cards: issued in partnership with brands like hotels, retail stores, or airlines.
• 0% APR/ Balance transfer cards: used to pay down debts or large purchases over time.

To compare different types of credit cards, start with the features that are most important to you. Do you want to earn rewards, save on interest, or raise your credit scores? The best credit card for you is one that speaks to your needs. Other features to look at are the card type, credit score requirements, annual fees, rewards rate, intro and outgoing APRs, and the pros and cons of each.

An introductory APR is the zero- or low-percentage interest rate that a credit card issuing company offers its new cardholders for a limited period. The APR may apply to balance transfers, purchases, or both. A card like this can be good for paying down or consolidating debt while saving money on interest.

All credit cards have some fine print. The fine print contains information that could make or break your card choice. Different types of credit cards have different information in their fine print. Still, generally, they should contain the APR, 0% interest period, low-interest terms, sign-up bonus rules, late or missed payments, balance transfer fees, and rewards program terms and limits.

The law requires card issuers to respond to your request within 30 days. That said, it may still take another ten business days for the card to arrive to you after approval. However, online applications can get you approved in minutes, and you should receive the card in 7-10 business days.