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Good credit can help you qualify for loans and borrow money at lower rates, but those aren't the only advantages. Maintaining a high credit score can also help you get approved for the very best credit cards, as cards that require excellent credit tend to offer high-end benefits and lavish rewards.
Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only : Best valueThe Platinum Card® from American Express - Product Name Only : Best for luxury travel benefitsChase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Product Name Only : Best mid-tier travel cardBank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card - Product Name Only : Best for cash back rewards (with qualifying banking relationship)Discover it® Miles - Product Name Only : Best for intro 0% APRWyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card - Product Name Only : Best for gas
Read on to see our selection of credit cards tailored to people with FICO's highest ratings.
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.
Compare the Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
Credit Card for Excellent Credit Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best credit card for excellent credit?
When you have an excellent credit score, the best card for you depends on your spending habits and the types of rewards you like to earn. There is no single best card for excellent credit that works for everyone. For instance, our overall pick for the best value, the
The great thing about having an excellent credit score is that you have a good shot at qualifying for just about any card you want.
What is an excellent credit score?
FICO and VantageScore define an excellent credit score slightly differently. With FICO, an excellent (exceptional) credit score is between 800 and 850. Meanwhile, VantageScore's range is slightly lower; it considers any score of 780 or higher as excellent.
Can I qualify for a credit card without excellent credit?
You can absolutely qualify for a credit card without having excellent credit. There are plenty of credit cards that don't require a top-tier FICO score for approval. Many cards ideal for those with good credit or fair to average credit still offer rewards and useful benefits, and there are even cards specifically for folks with bad credit who are rebuilding their credit, or those who are starting out with credit.
How can I get an excellent credit score?
There are various steps you can take to improve your credit score depending on what's keeping it down. Credit scores aren't fixed, so don't be discouraged if you can't yet qualify for the credit cards you want.
If you lack sufficient credit history, consider adding data points to your profile by getting a secured credit card, reporting rental payments, or getting added as an authorized user on someone else's credit card account.
If your credit has negative marks like late payments or too many recent inquiries, you can try to repair your credit score either on your own or with the help of a credit counseling agency.
Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Reviews
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only
The
As a cardholder, you'll get an annual credit of $300 toward travel booked through the Capital One Travel Portal, plus access to the new Premier Collection luxury hotel booking program. 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 you can get a better return by transferring miles to airline and hotel partners.
Those two benefits alone more than offset the annual fee, but you'll get plenty more. The
The card comes with an introductory offer of
Beyond that, you'll earn 5 miles per dollar on flights and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when you book 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.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Review
The Platinum Card® from American Express - Product Name Only
Travel perks include up to $200 annually in statement credits toward airline incidental fees on one airline of your choice**, up to $200 annually toward prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel, up to $200 in Uber Cash credits each year**, and credits to cover the cost of both a CLEAR expedited airport security membership and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck**.
Credits aside, you get access to Amex Centurion lounges and other airport lounges, elite status with Marriott and Hilton, hotel perks through the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts program, and travel protections like trip delay and lost baggage insurance.
Amex Platinum also offers a variety of retail and shopping benefits you can enroll in, including credits toward Saks Fifth Avenue purchases, select digital subscription services, Walmart+ membership, and more. You'll also get coverage like purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty for eligible items you buy with your card.
The
It's not the best card for everyday spending, since it only earns 1 point per dollar on most purchases. However, the flexible spending limit makes it handy for large purchases, especially those that wouldn't earn bonus points on another card. That's why it tops our list of the best high-limit credit cards.
American Express Platinum Card Review
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Product Name Only
Our pick for the best travel credit card overall, the
The card comes with a welcome bonus offer of
Beyond that, you'll earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase and on Lyft rides, plus 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases, and 2 points per dollar on other travel. Cardholders also get an anniversary bonus that effectively adds 0.1 points per dollar spent, making purchases slightly more rewarding.
The
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Review
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card - Product Name Only
The
The card earns 2 points per dollar on travel and dining, and 1.5 points per dollar on other purchases. Since Bank of America has no airline or hotel transfer partners, these points have a flat redemption value of 1 cent apiece, yielding 2% cash back on travel and dining, and 1.5% cash back elsewhere.
Neither of those rates is compelling, but you can boost your earnings by as much as 75% as a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer. At the top tier, you'll earn uncapped 3.5% cash back on travel and dining, and 2.625% cash back on other purchases. That compares favorably with other cash-back options.
The card comes with an intro offer of
Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card Review
Discover it® Miles - Product Name Only
Plenty of cards come with a 0% introductory APR, but many of them don't earn rewards, offer too short of an introductory period, or limit the introductory rate exclusively to balance transfers. The
New cardholders get a
In comparison, the
Wyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card - Product Name Only
Wyndham Rewards has two personal credit cards also issued by Barclays, but the small business card is the standout of the bunch. Don't be discouraged by the name; you can qualify for a small business credit card like this one even if you don't own a formal business.
One strength of the
The card comes with a welcome bonus of
Wyndham has a large global footprint, and you can take advantage of it with the top-tier Diamond elite status granted by the
Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card Review
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
We looked at dozens of popular credit cards that typically require an excellent credit score for approval, and considered several factors:
- Ease of use — Does the card make it easy to earn and redeem rewards, or is the process complicated?
- Rewards earning potential — Is there a generous welcome bonus and/or useful bonus categories? Are any of the earning categories capped?
- Annual fee — Many cards geared to folks with excellent credit charge an annual fee, which can be worth it depending on the perks. Is the fee reasonable, and do the card's benefits and rewards make it worth paying?
- Options for different types of consumers — The cards for excellent credit we chose appeal to various users, from frequent flyers to small business owners to folks looking to save on interest
You can read more about how we rate credit cards at Insider for a closer look at our methodology.