Best Credit Cards for People With Excellent Credit in 2023

MoneyGeek experts compared the best credit cards for people with excellent credit to find options that offer value that exceeds the fees they charge (if they charge any at all). The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card, for example, charges no annual fees and makes it to the top of the list. But the top card for you depends on your personal spending habits, and there are also several other great cards to choose from on our list.

We compared card offerings based on their rewards, their initial bonus offers and the benefits they offer cardholders.

The best credit cards for excellent credit that made this ranking are worth considering if you have a "good" credit score, or a FICO credit score of 670 or higher. However, you're most likely to get approved with a score over 740.

As you compare the different credit cards available for those with excellent credit, make sure to note the differences between travel credit cards, cash back credit cards, balance transfer credit cards and other types of offers since these will each have their individual benefits.

The links in the table above will take you to one of our partner's sites, where you can compare and apply for a selected credit card.

• Best Rewards Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
• Tips for Comparing New Cards & Offers When You Have Exceptional Credit
• The Perks of Having Excellent Credit History
• Maintaining an Excellent Credit Score

The best credit card offers for excellent credit stand out in terms of their perks and rewards, although your credit must be exceptional to qualify. Read on to find out which cards we can suggest, their pros and cons and who they're best for.

We’ve selected the top rewards cards for excellent credit based on different parameters. While factors such as reward rates and annual fees play important roles, we also pay due attention to the additional features and benefits you stand to enjoy. For example, the Amex Platinum Card offers statement credit toward payments made to several service providers.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - Best for international travelers

You may apply for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card if you have excellent creditworthiness with a credit score of 780 or higher. This card comes with no annual fees. You earn 5X miles per dollar on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel and unlimited 1.25X miles per dollar on all other purchases. You may redeem the miles you earn in different ways, which include paying for travel. Transferring your miles to any of over 15 travel partners is an option. Using this card outside of the U.S. comes with no foreign transaction fees.

Citi Rewards+® Card - Best for earning bonus rewards

You may qualify for the Citi Rewards+® Card with a good credit score of over 670, although an excellent credit score of 760 or higher will increase the odds of approval. This no-annual-fee card offers 20,000 bonus points if you spend $1,500 in the first three months. You earn 5X ThankYou Points per dollar on spending of up to $6,000 at restaurants during the first 12 months. You get 2X points per dollar at supermarkets and gas stations on combined spending of up to $6,000 per year. All other purchases earn an unlimited 1X points per dollar. You may redeem your points in different ways, which include paying for travel.

The excellent credit score credit cards we profile below let you earn cash back or points on your spending. Decide which card is for you by comparing the type of rewards they offer, the benefits you receive, annual fees and other card details.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express - Ideal for earning high cash back at supermarkets

You need a good credit score of over 670 to qualify for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, although you stand a better chance of approval with a score of over 700. As part of the card's welcome offer, you get $400 back as a statement credit if you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first six months. You get 6% cash back on spending of up to $6,000 per year on groceries at U.S. supermarkets and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. You get 3% cash back on gas at U.S. gas stations as well as on transit. All other purchases earn 1% cash back. You may get $10 in monthly statement credits toward your Equinox+ membership each year. This card comes with a $95 annual fee.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card - Best for earning cash back at grocery stores and on dining and entertainment

People with excellent credit scores of 780 or higher may qualify for the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. New cardholders may earn a $200 early spend cash bonus by spending $500 on purchases in the first three months. You get 3% cash back at grocery stores as well as on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services. All other purchases come with 1% cash back. You may redeem your cash back in different ways, one of which includes making travel bookings through Capital One Travel. Using this card outside of the U.S. is perfect because it charges no foreign transaction fees. This card comes with no annual fees.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express - Ideal for earning cash back on gas, groceries, and online retail purchases in the U.S.

You may expect to qualify for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express if you have a very good credit score of 700 or higher. This no-annual-fee card comes with a welcome offer that lets you earn $250 back as a statement credit by spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months. You earn 3% cash back on spending of up to $6,000 on groceries at U.S. supermarkets each year. The same also applies to online retail purchases in the U.S. and on gas purchases at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases earn 1% cash back. If you spend at least $13.99 per month on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle, you get $7 back each month. Cardholders who purchase Home Chef meal solutions online get up to $15 in statement credits per month.

Chase Freedom Unlimited - Perfect for people who use Chase Ultimate Rewards

You may think about getting the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Unlimited Card if you have a good credit score of 670 or higher, although you stand a better chance with a score of over 700. This card comes with a spend-based welcome offer and also gives you the ability to earn higher cash back during the first year. You earn 5% cash back on travel purchases made through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You get 3% cash back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and on drugstore purchases. All other purchases earn 1.5% cash back. Using your cash back to make travel bookings through Chase Ultimate Rewards is an option.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card - Perfect for earning unlimited cash back on every purchase

You may qualify for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card with an excellent credit score of 780 or higher. Spending $500 on purchases in the first three months comes with a $200 early spend cash bonus. All purchases earn unlimited 1.5% cash back. You may use your cash back to make travel bookings through Capital One Travel. Using this card to make purchases outside of the U.S. is ideal because it comes with no foreign transaction fees. This card does not charge any annual fees.

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card - Great for earning high cash back in your top spending category

While you might qualify for the no-annual-fee Citi Custom Cash℠ Card with a good credit score of 670 or higher, there's a better chance of approval if your score is over 720. If you spend $750 on purchases in the first three months, you get $200 cash back. You earn 5% cash back on spending of up to $500 in your highest eligible spend category every billing cycle. The categories include grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, drugstores, live entertainment, fitness clubs, home improvement stores, select travel, select transit, and select streaming services. All other purchases earn unlimited 1% cash back. You may redeem your cash back in different ways through the Citi ThankYou rewards program.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card - Perfect for earning high cash back on all purchases

Wells Fargo makes the Active Cash Card available to people with good credit scores of over 670, and you stand a better chance of qualifying if your score is over 700. Spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months comes with a $200 cash rewards bonus. You earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. You may redeem your cash back in different ways, which includes cash redemptions at ATMs.

American Express Cash Magnet® Card - Ideal for earning cash back across all categories

A good credit score of 670 or higher might help you qualify for the American Express Cash Magnet® Card, although you stand a better chance with a score of over 700. You stand to earn a $200 statement credit as a welcome bonus if you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first six months. All purchases you make using this card earn 1.5% cash back. This card comes with no annual fees.

Having good or excellent credit makes managing your finances significantly easier. People with great credit don't have to struggle to borrow money when they need it, and they get their pick of the top rewards credit cards. Not only that, but consumers with excellent credit also qualify for better credit card fees and interest rates, as well as targeted credit card offers the general public never sees.

The selection of credit cards you're eligible for will depend largely on your credit score and your credit history. However, it's not surprising that cards with the best rewards and terms go to those with excellent credit scores. This includes cards with the most lucrative rewards schemes, sign-up bonus offers and cardholder perks.

According to the Federal Reserve, the average credit card interest rate was 14.75% as of February 2021. However, individuals with fair credit are typically eligible for offers with considerably higher rates.

For example, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is marketed to people with "fair" credit, and thus it comes with a variable APR of 26.99%. Meanwhile, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card for people with excellent credit comes with an introductory APR offer, followed by a variable APR of 15.49% to 25.49%.

Having excellent credit takes time and work, but you'll reap plenty of benefits once you reach the threshold for good credit or an exceptional credit score. Here's how you can maximize the status you have worked so hard to earn.

Individuals with excellent credit don't need to reach a specific income threshold or come from a certain type of background. To get an excellent credit score, all you need to do is take on a handful of habits that let the credit bureaus know you take your financial health — and your credit — seriously. For example, you should strive to pay your bills early or on time, keep revolving debt at a minimum and refrain from opening or closing too many accounts.

Generally speaking, people who have made credit mistakes in the past may need to spend a year or longer fixing their credit. Picking up a credit card for fair or poor credit or even a secured credit card can help in that effort since monthly payments and overall credit history will be reported to the three credit bureaus, thus helping to boost your score. Ideally, you will use an inferior credit card until your credit has improved enough to qualify for one of the best credit cards for excellent credit.

If you have a thin credit profile, on the other hand, you may be able to begin working toward good credit over the span of several months. Once again, a credit card for fair credit or a secured credit card can help you build your credit history so you can qualify for better rewards credit cards later on.

Once you have great credit, most of the hard work has already been done. At this point, all you have to do is stay the course, treat your credit with care and avoid common credit mishaps that can cause your score to plummet.

How do you maintain excellent credit once you get there? These tips can help:

• Pay all credit cards and other bills early or on time, with no exceptions.
• Set bills up for automatic payment so that the minimum payment is paid even if you forget.
• Avoid carrying more than $3,000 in debt for every $10,000 in available credit you have.
• Keep old credit cards open — even if you just stick them in a drawer or a safe.
• Instead of canceling old credit cards with fees, downgrade them to a no-fee version and keep them open instead.
• Avoid applying for more than a handful of new credit cards each year.
• Utilize different types of credit, including credit cards, a mortgage, an auto loan, personal loans and more.
• Keep an eagle eye on your credit report for errors, and dispute any you find.
• Keep a list of credit cards you have and when their annual fees are due (if applicable) so that you won't be surprised with an annual fee on a card you're not using.
• Use a monthly budget that helps you stay on top of credit card spending and avoid long-term debt.
• Sign up for a credit monitoring service that lets you know when new accounts are open or when changes occur to your credit score.

Our lists of the best credit cards are based on publicly available data from card issuers and other reputable sources like the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. We review each card's fees, interest rates, rewards, benefits and more to assign a rating for each feature. These ratings are stack ranked and weighted for each card category to determine our top selections for each type of user. Because card details change regularly, we revisit our data each month to update our ratings, recommendations and other card information as needed. Learn more about our data collection and ranking process.

The best credit cards for excellent credit offer exceptional rewards and perks you can use, but that's not all. They can also help you build or maintain great credit you can benefit from for the rest of your life.

The following questions and answers can help you learn more about building and maintaining excellent credit, as well as finding the right credit card.

The best credit cards for people with excellent credit are constantly changing and evolving. With that in mind, you should check this page frequently for updated information on new cardholder perks, rewards rates and bonus offers.

Also make sure you take special care to maintain the excellent credit you have worked so hard to earn. By paying bills on time, avoiding too much debt and keeping an eye on your credit reports, you can benefit from your excellent credit for years or decades to come.