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Visa remains the world's largest credit card payments network, with over 4 billion cards in circulation worldwide, 80 million merchant locations, and $14 trillion of total volume processed in 2022. You'll find the Visa logo on many of the best credit cards from a diverse set of card issuers, ranging from basic debit cards to premium credit cards with luxury benefits. 

Read on to see how all these benefits come together in the cards that make our list of the best Visa credit cards.

Compare Visa Credit Cards

Best Visa Credit Cards

Methodology: How we chose the best Visa credit cards

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

We considered dozens of popular Visa credit cards, including rewards credit cardscash-back credit cards, and credit cards for bad credit. Insider's experts evaluated the cards based on several factors, including:

  • Ease of use — Does the card have a straightforward rewards program, and are rewards easy to earn and redeem? Are there any restrictions?
  • Rewards earning potential — If the card offers a welcome bonus, is it competitive with similar cards and are the bonus categories for spending useful to the average consumer? Are there any spending limits?
  • Annual fee — For cards that charge an annual fee, do the benefits and rewards make it worth the cost?
  • Options for different types of customers — We chose Visa cards that appeal to different consumers, including travelers, small-business owners, and folks who are building their credit.

Here's a closer look at how we rate credit cards at Insider that explains our full methodology.

Visa Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Visa credit card?

There's no one best Visa credit card — the right card for you depends on your spending habits, the kinds of rewards you like to earn, what you hope to get out of the card, and other factors. Whichever Visa card you choose, you can be confident that it will be accepted just about anywhere that takes a credit card.

What is the highest level of Visa card?

Visa cards come in several flavors, but the type with the most benefits is Visa Infinite. Visa Infinite cards typically come with excellent travel and purchase protections, plus access to the Visa Infinite Concierge, among other perks. 

Are Visa credit cards hard to get?

Visa credit cards aren't hard to get by default; it depends on the specific issuer and type of card. There are Visa credit cards ranging from secured credit cards that are geared to those building their credit, to ultra-premium credit cards that require excellent credit for approval.

How do I apply for a Visa credit card?

You can't apply for a card directly with Visa, since it's a payment network and not a bank. To open a Visa credit card, you'll have to apply with the issuing bank (like Chase or Bank of America) directly, either online, by phone, or in person at a branch.

Is Visa or Mastercard better?

Visa and Mastercard credit cards are fairly equal, and are accepted by most merchants that take credit cards. Their benefits and rewards are similar, as well, so for most people, there isn't much of a difference between having one or the other.

Best overall

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Product Name Only doesn't just top this list of the best Visa cards, it's also our pick for the overall best travel rewards credit card of any kind, and is a great fit for frequent travelers who don't want to spring for a premium card with a high annual fee.

Cardholders earn rewards at competitive rates, gain access to valuable redemption options via airline and hotel transfer partners, and get essential travel benefits and perks for a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Annual Fee annual fee that's on par with other mid-tier credit cards.

The card comes with a welcome bonus offer of Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Intro Bonus. Based on Insider's valuation of Chase points at an average of 1.8 cents per point, we value that bonus at Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Featured Reward Value. Beyond that, you'll earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards® and on Lyft rides (through March 2025), plus 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases, 2 points per dollar on other travel, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. You also get an anniversary bonus that effectively adds 0.1 points per dollar spent, making purchases slightly more rewarding.

As for benefits, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Product Name Only offers primary rental car insurance and an assortment of travel and purchase protections, including baggage delay insurance that kicks in after only six hours. Cardholders get a 25% bonus for redeeming points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, yielding a redemption value of 1.25 cents per point. The card also comes with an annual credit of up to $50 for hotels booked through Ultimate Rewards, as well as perks with delivery services DoorDash, Instacart, and Gopuff.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Review

Best for excellent credit

Capital One Venture X

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only is Capital One's entry into the premium credit card market. It comes with valuable benefits to rival its competitors, but charges a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Annual Fee annual fee that's lower than most other premium cards, making it an excellent value overall.

This metal credit card comes with an introductory offer of Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Intro Bonus. That's worth around Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Featured Reward Value in travel, based on our average valuation of Capital One miles at 1.7 cents each. Beyond that, you'll earn 5 miles per dollar on flights and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal. You'll also earn 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases, making it a good option for everyday spending.

As a cardholder, you'll get an annual statement credit of up to $300 toward travel booked through Capital One. You also receive an annual bonus of 10,000 miles on your account anniversary; that's worth $100 when you redeem directly with Capital One, or potentially more when you transfer miles to airline and hotel partners.

Those two benefits more than offset the annual fee, but you'll get plenty more. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only grants cardholders access to Priority Pass airport lounges with 1,300 locations worldwide, as well as Plaza Premium lounges and Capital One's own (very) small but growing network of lounges. The card offers an application fee credit of up to $100 for expedited security programs Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, and comes with first-rate travel protections like primary rental car insurance*** and trip delay protection*** that applies after just six hours.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Review

Best for poor credit or no credit

BoA Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card

Secured credit cards can help you establish a credit history or rebuild your credit, but they tend to offer little else in return. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card - Product Name Only is an exception; while it remains light on benefits, it earns rewards at rates competitive with unsecured starter credit cards, including some that charge an annual fee.

While this card does not offer a welcome bonus, you can earn 3% cash back on purchases in one category of your choice. Options include gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, and home improvement purchases, and you can change your selection once per calendar month. You'll also earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. The 3% and 2% bonuses are capped at a combined $2,500 of spending each quarter. 

Cash back rewards can be redeemed in any amount as a statement credit to your credit card, or as a deposit to an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account. You can also redeem rewards by check in amounts of $25 or more.

Your account requires a security deposit of between $200 and $5,000, and the amount you deposit helps determine your credit limit. Card issuers typically hold these security deposits as collateral until the account is closed. However, Bank of America periodically reviews Customized Cash Secured accounts, and may refund your deposit based on factors like your credit history and banking relationship.

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card Review

Best for simple cash rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

If you want a reliable rewards structure with no caps, categories, or calendars to track, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card - Product Name Only can oblige. You'll earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, and you can redeem for statement credits on your card with a minimum redemption of just $1. You can also redeem for credits to Wells Fargo mortgages, loans, and other credit product accounts, for gift cards and travel, or at Wells Fargo ATMs (in increments of $20) if you also have a Wells Fargo debit card.

The card offers a Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card - Intro Bonus, as well as a Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card - Intro APR (then a Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card - Regular APR APR). Rewards don't expire and the card has no annual fee, but it does charge a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it's not ideal for international travel. 

The card offers the basic suite of Visa Signature benefits like secondary car rental insurance and access to the Luxury Hotel Collection. When you use your card to pay your phone bill, you also get cell phone protection that covers up to $600 per claim in the event of damage or theft. There's a deductible of $25 per claim, and a maximum of two claims allowed in a 12-month period.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review

Best for flexible bonus categories

U.S. Bank Cash+

Unlike most 5% cash back credit cards, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card - Product Name Only  ets you choose your own bonus categories. Each quarter, you'll earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 of combined spending in two categories, including fast food, home utilities, TV, internet, and streaming services, department stores, electronic stores, cell phone providers, sporting goods stores, furniture stores, movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers, ground transportation, and select clothing stores.

You'll also earn uncapped 5% cash back on prepaid travel booked through the U.S. Bank travel portal, 2% on your choice of groceries, restaurants or gas stations and electric charging stations, and 1% on other purchases. While the list of 5% categories includes several uninspiring options, it also features highly useful (and uncommon) ones like home utilities, cell phone providers, and TV, internet, and streaming services.

The card comes with a welcome bonus of U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card - Intro Bonus, and offers a U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card - Intro APR (then a U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card - Regular APR APR). The relatively high cap on bonus spending, the flexibility to choose your own bonus categories, and no annual fee help the card stand out. However, it charges foreign transaction fees and imposes a minimum threshold of $25 to redeem rewards. Also, rewards expire 36 months after the billing cycle in which they were earned, so you can't hold onto them indefinitely.

US Bank Cash Plus Card Review

Best for road warriors

Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card

Wyndham Rewards has two personal credit cards also issued by Barclays, but the business credit card is the standout of the bunch. Don't be discouraged by the name; you may qualify for a small business credit card like this one even if you don't own a formal business.

The Wyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card - Product Name Only offers rewarding benefits for those who spend a lot of time on the road. You'll earn 8 points per dollar on Wyndham stays (in addition to the points you earn from Wyndham directly). You'll also earn 8 points per dollar on gas purchases, which yields a return of 6.4% based on our average redemption value of 0.8 cents per point for Wyndham. Finally, you'll earn 5 points per dollar on eligible utilities, marketing, and advertising expenses.

The card comes with a welcome bonus of Wyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card - Intro Bonus, and offers a bonus of 15,000 points automatically after each card anniversary (more than enough to offset the Wyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card - Annual Fee annual fee). On the redemption side, cardholders get a 10% discount on go free awards, as well as a 4% discount off paid stays when you book directly with Wyndham.

Wyndham has a massive global footprint with nearly 9,000 properties worldwide and over 6,500 in North America, and you can take advantage of that ubiquity with the top-tier Diamond status granted by the card. If Wyndham properties don't fit in your plans, you can also get good (or sometimes great) value by transferring points to Caesars Rewards or redeeming for vacation rentals through Wyndham's partnership with Vacasa.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card Review

Best for Amazon purchases

Amazon Prime Visa Card

If you shop regularly at Amazon or Whole Foods, the recently refreshed Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card - Product Name Only offers exceptional value. With an eligible Amazon Prime membership, you'll earn 5% back on Chase Travel Portal, Amazon, and Whole Foods purchases when you load your card to your Amazon account. Those purchases earn 3% back without a Prime account, but the rewards are uncapped in either case. 

You also earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of Amazon products, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% back elsewhere. The card comes with an introductory offer of a Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card - Intro Bonus There's no spending requirement for the gift card; it's loaded into your Amazon.com account as soon as your card application is approved. 

Earnings and bonus aside, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card - Product Name Only has strong perks for a credit card with no annual fee. You get key shopping benefits like an extended warranty policy and purchase protection that covers theft and damage for up to 120 days after purchase and $500 per claim. You also get travel benefits like secondary car rental insurance within the US and primary car rental insurance elsewhere, baggage delay insurance that kicks in after six hours, and no foreign transaction fees.

Amazon Prime Visa Card Review

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