Used well, a credit card is a convenient payment tool that can earn cashback or travel rewards. Used carelessly, it becomes one of the most expensive ways to borrow. Our credit card guides explain how interest is calculated, how grace periods work and what fees to watch for.
We also look at rewards and cashback programs with a critical eye, so you can tell whether a card's perks are actually worth its costs.
Well-known cash back, rewards and travel credit cards in the United States, the United Kingdom and other major markets, compared on annual fee, rewards, foreign transaction fees and the most important pros and cons. Switch between regions with the tabs. Interest rates (APRs) are variable and depend on your credit profile; welcome offers change often, so check the issuer before applying.
Rates, fees and terms checked on . They change often; always confirm with the provider before you sign up.
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Foreign transaction fee | Best for | Pros | Cons |
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| Citi Double CashCiti · flat-rate cash backOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | $0 | 2% on every purchase1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (transfer fee applies); no intro APR on purchases. | 3% | Simple flat-rate cash back |
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| Wells Fargo Active CashWells Fargo · flat-rate cash backOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | $0 | 2% cash rewards on purchases0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then variable APR. | 3% | Flat 2% plus an intro APR |
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| Chase Freedom UnlimitedChase · cash backOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | $0 | 1.5%–5% cash back5% on travel booked through Chase Travel, 3% at restaurants and drugstores, 1.5% on everything else. 0% intro APR for 15 months. | 3% | Everyday spending and dining |
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| Capital One SavorCapital One · cash backOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | $0 | 1%–8% cash back3% on dining, entertainment, popular streaming and grocery stores (not superstores like Walmart and Target), 8% on Capital One Entertainment, 5% on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel, 1% elsewhere. | None | Dining, groceries and entertainment |
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| Discover it Cash BackDiscover (Capital One) · rotating categoriesOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | $0 | 5% in rotating categories, 1% else5% on up to $1,500 per quarter in categories you activate (Q4 2026: entertainment, restaurants, utilities). First-year Cashback Match. Some cards move to Capital One from July 2026. | None | People who track bonus categories |
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| Amex Blue Cash PreferredAmerican Express · cash backOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | $0 first year, then $95 | 1%–6% cash back6% at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 a year, then 1%) and on select US streaming, 3% on transit and at US gas stations, 1% elsewhere. | 2.7% | Families with big grocery bills |
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| Chase Sapphire PreferredChase · travel rewardsOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | $95 | 1x–5x points5x on Chase Travel; 3x on dining, online groceries, select streaming, gas and EV charging, vacation rentals; 2x other travel; 1x elsewhere. $100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit. The 10% anniversary bonus ends Oct. 1, 2026. | None | A first travel rewards card |
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| Capital One Venture XCapital One · premium travelOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | $395 | 2x–10x miles2x on everything; 10x on hotels and rental cars and 5x on flights and vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel. $300 annual travel credit via Capital One Travel and 10,000 anniversary miles. | None | Premium travel at a moderate fee |
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| American Express GoldAmerican Express · dining rewardsOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | $325 | 1x–5x points4x at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 a year) and US supermarkets (up to $25,000 a year), 3x on flights, 5x on prepaid hotels via Amex Travel. Credits include $120 dining, $120 Uber Cash, up to $100 Resy and $84 Dunkin'. | None | Food lovers and frequent diners |
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| The Platinum Card (Amex)American Express · luxury travelOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | $895 | 1x–5x points5x on flights booked directly or via Amex Travel and on prepaid hotels via Amex Travel, 1x elsewhere. Access to 1,550+ airport lounges and credits worth over $3,500 a year if fully used (hotels, Resy, digital entertainment, Uber, CLEAR+, airline fees and more). | None | Frequent travelers who use lounges |
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| Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Foreign transaction fee | Best for | Pros | Cons |
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| Chase UK Credit CardChase UK · cashbackOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | £0 | 2% cashback in categories2% on groceries, restaurants, transport, fuel and EV charging, up to £20 a month combined with the Chase debit card. Requires a Chase current account. Representative 24.9% APR (variable). | None | Chase customers |
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| Amex Preferred Rewards GoldAmerican Express UK · rewardsOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | £0 first year, then £195 | 1 point per £1Membership Rewards points, with extra points on Amex Travel bookings. Includes four airport lounge visits a year. | 2.99% | Earning points for flights and hotels |
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| Amex Platinum Cashback EverydayAmerican Express UK · cashbackOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | £0 | 0.5%–1% cashback0.5% on the first £10,000 of annual spending and 1% above, plus an introductory cashback offer for new cardmembers. | 2.99% | Cashback with no annual fee |
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| Barclaycard RewardsBarclaycard · travelOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | £0 | 0.25% cashbackNo fees on purchases or cash withdrawals abroad (interest applies to cash withdrawals). | None | Spending and cash abroad |
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| Halifax ClarityHalifax · travelOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | £0 | NoneNo fees on purchases abroad; a popular Mastercard companion to a Visa travel card. | None | Fee-free spending abroad |
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| Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Foreign transaction fee | Best for | Pros | Cons |
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| Scotiabank Passport Visa InfiniteCanada · Scotiabank · travelOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | CA$150 | Scene+ pointsBonus points on groceries, dining and transit; six airport lounge visits a year included. | None | Canadians who travel or shop in other currencies |
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| American Express CobaltCanada · American Express · rewardsOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | CA$15.99 a month (≈ CA$192 a year) | 1x–5x points5x on eats and drinks including groceries (up to CA$2,500 a month), 3x on streaming, 2x on travel and transit, 1x elsewhere. | 2.5% | High rewards on food and groceries |
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| Tangerine Money-Back Credit CardCanada · Tangerine · cash backOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | CA$0 | 0.5%–2% cash back2% in up to three spending categories you choose (the third requires depositing rewards into a Tangerine savings account), 0.5% on everything else. | 2.5% | No-fee cash back in Canada |
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| BMO CashBack MastercardCanada · BMO · cash backOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | CA$0 | 0.5%–3% cash back3% on groceries (first CA$500 per month), 1% on recurring bills, 0.5% elsewhere. | 2.5% | Grocery spending with no annual fee |
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| Latitude 28° Global Platinum MastercardAustralia · Latitude · travelOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | A$8 a month (A$96 a year) | NoneNo international transaction fees on purchases overseas or online; the monthly fee was introduced in September 2024. | None (purchases) | Australians who travel or shop overseas |
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| Bankwest Zero Platinum MastercardAustralia · Bankwest · no annual feeOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | A$0 | None0% international transaction fee. Introductory 0% on purchases for 6 months, then a standard purchase rate of about 18.99% p.a. | None | Fee-free spending abroad with no annual fee |
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| Hanseatic Bank GenialCardGermany · Hanseatic Bank · VisaOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | €0 | NoneNo annual fee, no foreign currency fee and no Hanseatic fee for cash withdrawals worldwide (ATM operators may charge their own fees). | None | A free travel credit card in Germany |
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| Barclays Visa (now easybank)Germany · easybank · VisaOfficial website (opens in a new tab) | €0 | NoneNo annual fee and no foreign currency fee; Barclays' German card business now operates under the easybank brand. | None | Fee-free spending abroad in Germany |
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Sources: The Motley Fool: Chase Sapphire Preferred 2026 update, CNBC Select: Amex Platinum (Aug. 2026), Upgraded Points: Amex Gold 2026 benefits, CNBC Select: Venture X annual fee, Upgraded Points: Discover Q4 2026 categories, Chase UK credit card, Finder UK: best credit cards, Ratehub: best credit cards in Canada, Australian Frequent Flyer: 28 Degrees monthly fee, Finder Australia: Bankwest Zero Platinum, Finanztip: Hanseatic Bank GenialCard, Finanztip: Barclays Visa.
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