Best credit cards

Best personal cards.

The cards in your own name. This is where almost everyone starts.

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These are the cards in your own name. No business needed.

Not sure which order to open them in? Start with my card strategy.

Bonus amounts and annual fees change all the time, so always check the current offer before you apply.

My personal picks

  1. ChaseSapphire Reserve®
    or Preferred®
    Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred®Start here. Both earn flexible Chase points. The big difference, for me, is Hyatt.The Reserve moves Chase points to Hyatt at 1 to 1. The Preferred now moves them at 4 to 3, so 4,000 Chase points become 3,000 Hyatt points.I wouldn't normally recommend a card with an annual fee as high as the Reserve's as your first card. But we stay at Hyatt properties SO much that keeping that 1 to 1 transfer is important to me.My pick: for me, I'm choosing the Reserve. But if you can't stomach the annual fee, I'm still choosing the Preferred as my first card.See today's Sapphire offersThis is my referral link. I can be rewarded if you apply here and are approved for either card.
  2. Capital OneVenture
    Capital One VentureA simple card that earns the same rate on everything, so there are no categories to remember.It also gives you a second set of flexible points with its own list of transfer partners.See today's Venture offerThis is my referral link. I may earn a bonus if you're approved.
  3. American ExpressGold Card
    American Express Gold CardThe card for families who spend the most on food. It earns extra Amex Membership Rewards points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, which is where a lot of a family budget goes.Those points move to a long list of airlines and hotels. It has an annual fee, so add up what you'd really use before you apply.See today's Amex Gold offerHere's my Amex referral link. Use it and we could both earn rewards if you are approved and get a Card. The link opens Amex's list of cards, so choose the Gold Card there. Offers vary.
  4. Then a co-branded hotel or airline cardBy now you know what you actually use. Pick the airline that flies the most from your home airport, or the hotel brand your family likes, and add its card for the perks.

The bottom line: start with a Sapphire, and only add the next card when you can still pay everything in full.

Card approval is always decided by the bank. Nothing here is personal financial advice.

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