Discover the top 10 credit cards of 2018 designed to boost your financial flexibility. This guide highlights options for travel, cashback, student benefits, and business needs, emphasizing responsible credit management. Make informed choices to optimize your spending, earn rewards, and maintain healthy credit scores with expert-backed recommendations.
In Sophie Kinsella’s popular novel, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Becky Bloomwood enjoys a lavish lifestyle in London, flaunting designer clothing and trendy accessories. However, her indulgent spending leads to significant debt and constant calls from her bank. Her reckless use of credit cards emphasizes both the advantages and risks of credit. While Becky's story ends happily, it acts as a cautionary tale about responsible credit management—highlighting the importance of using credit wisely to avoid financial pitfalls.
Smart credit utilization involves understanding your financial goals—whether for shopping, bills, credit score improvement, travel rewards, or hotel bookings. Planning your repayments is vital to maintaining good credit health. To assist in your decision-making, here are the top 10 credit cards of 2018, suited for different needs:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A premier travel card with no annual fee and 0% APR for the first year. After the introductory period, APR varies from 17.49% to 24.49%. Earn up to 50,000 bonus points with a $4,000 spend in three months.
Citi® Double Cash Card
No annual fee, with 18 months of 0% APR on balance transfers. Offers 2% cashback on all purchases—ideal for cashback lovers. Regular APR ranges from 14.99% to 24.99%.
American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card
For a $95 annual fee, benefit from 0% APR on purchases and transfers during the first year. Earn 6% cashback at supermarkets, 3% at gas stations, and department stores. Regular APR ranges from 14.74% to 25.74%.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Card
Earn 1.5 points per dollar spent with no annual fee, plus 12 months of 0% APR. Spend $1,000 within 90 days for a 20,000-point bonus.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Designed for students, offers no annual fee and a 0% APR for six months on purchases and balance transfers. Afterward, the rate is 10.99%.
American Express SimplyCash® Plus Business Card
Perfect for small enterprises, providing 5% cashback on supplies and wireless bills. No annual fee, and 0% APR for 15 months. Post-intro rate varies between 13.99% and 20.99%.
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Card
Travel-focused rewards card with no initial fee and a 14.49%–24.49% APR. Spend $3,000 in three months to earn 50,000 miles bonus.
Note:
This information is based on research, expert insights, and available data. Offers may vary by individual and financial institution. As conditions change, this information might become outdated. Always seek advice from a financial professional before choosing specific credit products.