Discover The Finest Credit Cards Of August 2023
Rewards, Premier Offers & Reviews
Written By: Nick Williamson
Edited By: Tracy Stewart
Reviewed By: Jason Steele
July 31, 2023
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Credit cards are a secure payment method that give cardholders access to a line of credit they can borrow from and pay back over time. When used responsibly, they’re a great credit-building tool that can help establish credit, build a positive credit history and help you save money down the road if you need a loan for something like a car or home.
The best credit cards are particularly worth it because they provide long-term value with rewards and perks that aren’t found with other payment methods.
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Everyday Cash Rewards
Cash Back Match
Unlimited cash back
Dining Rewards
BEST FOR ROUTINE SOUTHWEST FLYERS
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
2X
2X
2X
2X
1X
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Intro offer
Earn 50,000 points
Annual fee
$69
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% variable
Pros
- Points never expire as long as the account remains active.
- There are no blackout dates.
Cons
- There’s a $69 annual fee.
- Reward tickets must be for nonstop flights.
highlights
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Member FDIC
Rates & Fees
Annual Fee
$69
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR
N/A
View All Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Details
BEST FOR CREDIT BUILDING
Credit One Bank® Platinum Rewards Visa® with No Annual Fee
See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
2%
2% cash back rewards on eligible gas and grocery purchases as well as mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. Terms apply.
Intro offer
No current offer
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
29.24% variable
Pros
- This card charges no annual fee.
- There’s the opportunity of a credit line increase once you’ve shown good credit habits (there is no specific time period for account review).
Cons
- The variable APR is high and could derail attempts at building credit for someone prone to carrying a balance.
- The $300 credit limit could be risky in terms of credit utilization.
highlights
- No annual fee for qualified applicants. Terms apply.
- Get 2% cash back rewards on eligible gas and grocery purchases as well as mobile phone, internet, cable, and satellite TV services. Terms apply.
- Choose your monthly payment due date for added convenience. Terms apply.
- Free Online Credit Score and Credit Report summary, terms apply
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability.
- Stay in-the-know with customizable account alerts via email and text.
- Manage your account on-the-go with the Credit One Bank mobile app.
- If you are a Covered Borrower under the Military Lending Act, you may get a different offer
- See Rates & Fees
Rates & Fees
Annual Fee
$0
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular APR
29.24% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR
N/A
View All Credit One Bank® Platinum Rewards Visa® with No Annual Fee Details
BEST CREDIT-BUILDING + REWARDS
Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa®
See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
5%
1%
Get 5% cash back rewards on the first $5,000 of eligible gas, grocery, internet, cable, satellite TV, and mobile phone service purchases each year, and then 1% thereafter.
1% cash back rewards on all other purchases. Terms Apply.
Intro offer
No current offer
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
29.24% variable
Pros
- Cardholders may be eligible for a credit limit increase after review (there is no specific time frame for account review).
- The card includes access to monthly credit-monitoring reports.
Cons
- The high APR may be risky if you carry a balance.
- The annual fee of $95 may be too high for some.
highlights
- Get 5% cash back rewards on the first $5,000 of eligible gas, grocery, internet, cable, satellite TV, and mobile phone service purchases each year, and then 1% thereafter. Plus 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases, terms apply
- Zero Fraud Liability protects you from unauthorized charges
- Free Online Credit Score and Credit Report summary, terms apply
- Automatically earn More Cash Back Rewards for using your Credit One Bank card at participating merchants, terms apply
- If you are a Covered Borrower under the Military Lending Act, you may get a different offer
- See Rates & Fees
Rates & Fees
Annual Fee
$95
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular APR
29.24% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR
N/A
View All Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa® Details
BEST FOR LOW-INTEREST + SECURED CREDIT
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
This card doesn't offer cash back, miles, or points
Intro offer
No current offer
Annual fee
$35
Regular APR
25.64% variable
Pros
- The card charges a reasonable $35 annual fee.
- There’s no credit check required when applying.
Cons
- The card charges a $10 monthly fee for inactive accounts.
- There is up to a $40 fee for late payments and up to a $25 fee for returned payments.
highlights
- No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!
- Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2/3 of cardholders receive a 48+ point improvement after making 3 on-time payments
- Extend your $200 credit line by getting considered for an unsecured credit line increase after 6 months, no additional deposit required!
- Get free monthly access to your FICO score in our mobile application
- Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and Transunion
- Add to your mobile wallet and make purchases using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
- Fund your card with a low $200 refundable security deposit to get a $200 credit line
- Apply in less than 5 minutes with our mobile first application
- Choose the due date that fits your schedule with flexible payment dates
- Fund your security deposit over 60 days with the option to make partial payments
- Join over 1.2 million cardholders who’ve used OpenSky to build their credit
Rates & Fees
Annual Fee
$35
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular APR
25.64% (variable)
Intro Balance Transfers APR
N/A
View All OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card Details
BEST FOR AUTOMATIC INSTALLMENT PLAN SEEKERS
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
1.5%
Earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment
Intro offer
$200
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
14.99% - 29.99% APR
Pros
- This card charges no annual fee.
- The installment plan feature makes repayment much faster.
Cons
- Unless you qualify for the lower APR, the interest on this card could quickly get out of hand if you carry a balance.
- The card does not allow balance transfers.
highlights
- $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking Plus account and making 3 debit card transactions*
- Earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment.
- Combine the flexibility of a credit card with the predictability of a personal loan.
- No annual fee
- No touch payments with contactless technology built in.
- See if you qualify in minutes without hurting your credit score.
- Great for large purchases with predictable payments you can budget for.
- Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere.
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud liability.
- Earn a $200 bonus after you open & fund a Rewards Checking Plus account & make 3 debit card transactions within 60 days. If you previously opened a checking account through Upgrade or do not do so as part of this process, you are not eligible. Payout made within 60 days of meeting the conditions.
- See Rates & Fees
Rates & Fees
Annual Fee
$0
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular APR
14.99% - 29.99% APR
Intro Balance Transfers APR
N/A
View All Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® Details
BEST CREDIT-BUILDING CARD FOR EARNING REWARDS
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa®
See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
1%
Receive 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas and grocery purchases as well as mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. Terms apply.
Intro offer
No current offer
Annual fee
$39
Regular APR
29.24% variable
Pros
- This card includes free monthly Experian credit monitoring services.
- Accounts are automatically reviewed to determine if they qualify for credit line increases (there is no specific time frame around account reviews).
Cons
- The high APR may be a deal breaker for those who carry a balance.
- The $300 initial credit limit is low and some users could be dinged for credit utilization.
highlights
- Receive 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas and grocery purchases as well as mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. Terms apply.
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability.
- Free Online Credit Score and Credit Report summary, terms apply
- Make paying your bill easier with the ability to choose your payment due date, terms apply.
- Access your account on-the-go with the Credit One Bank mobile app.
- Never miss an account update with customizable text and email alerts.
- See Rates & Fees
Rates & Fees
Annual Fee
$39
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular APR
29.24% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR
N/A
View All Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® Details
BEST FOR SECURED CARD CREDIT LINE INCREASES
Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card
See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
This card doesn't offer cash back, miles, or points
Intro offer
No current offer
Annual fee
$36 for first year. Billed $3 per month thereafter
Regular APR
22.70% variable
Pros
- Accounts are automatically reviewed after nine months for a potential credit line increase with no additional deposit required.
- This card comes with fraud coverage in the event your card is lost or stolen.
Cons
- This card offers no rewards.
- If your credit line is on the lower end, you risk running into credit utilization ratio issues.
highlights
- Choose your own credit line based on how much money you want to put down as a security deposit.
- Initial deposits can be from $200 to $3,000. You can increase your credit line at any time by adding additional money to your security deposit, up to $3,000.
- After 9 months, we review your account for a credit line increase. No additional deposit required!
- Secured Credit Cards are great for people looking to build or rebuild credit and are available to people with all kinds of credit backgrounds.
- Unlike a debit card or a pre-paid card, it helps build your credit history. We report your payment history to all three major credit-reporting agencies.
- Get your FICO® Credit Score for free each month.
- Fraud coverage if your card is lost or stolen. Access your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get help staying on track with available Auto Pay and account alerts.
- Card issued by Merrick Bank, Member FDIC.
Rates & Fees
Annual Fee
$36 for first year. Billed $3 per month thereafter
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular APR
22.70% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR
N/A
View All Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card Details
Our Methodology And Research
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Criteria Used
Rates and fees, rewards rates, sign-up bonuses, redemption options, credit needed, miscellaneous benefits, customer service, security, ease of application.