Investopedia Credit Card Rating Methodology

Best

In order to compile our overall list of the best credit cards, we gathered information on more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace. We then weighed each of those data points, based on factors we consider the most relevant for consumers, such as rewards, benefits, interest rates, and annual fees. The data points used to build our best overall list of credit cards that accounted for at least 5% of each cards overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Total annual earnings (11%)
Fees: Annual fee (10%)
Details: Is cobrand (10%)—this is a deductive score
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (5%)
Rewards: Minimum earn rate (5%)

In order to calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards, we used sample spending profiles based on average annual spending data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Student

To select the best student credit cards, we reviewed more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card. We weighed each of those data points, with a focus on factors we consider the most relevant for students, such as interest rates, rewards, and annual fees. Of the data points used to build our best overall list of student credit cards, these features accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating:

Interest: Regular APR (7%)
Interest: Intro Purchase APR (6%)
Fees: Annual fee (5%)
Rewards: Total annual earnings (5%)
Rewards: Minimum earn rate (5%)
Fee: Foreign transaction fee (5%)

Students are often on a budget since their primary focus is getting their education. It should come as no surprise that interest rates and annual fees top our list of key features that students need to focus on. To calculate the total annual earnings of each student credit card’s rewards, we used sample spending profiles for college-aged adults based on average annual spending data compiled by the BLS.

Rewards

We compiled more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find to identify the best rewards credit cards. We then analyzed each of those data points and ranked the cards based on factors we consider the most relevant when earning rewards, such as welcome bonus, earnings rate, and annual fees. The data points used to build our best overall list of rewards credit cards that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Total annual earnings (10%)
Details: Is cobrand (10%)
Fees: Annual fee (7%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (5%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus spend requirement (5%)
Rewards: Highest rewards earnings rate (5%)

We used sample spending profiles based on average annual spending data compiled by the BLS to calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards.

Travel

To present our overall list of the best travel credit cards, we compiled more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace. We then analyzed each of those data points, focusing on factors we consider the most relevant for travelers. These factors include welcome bonus, earnings rate, partner benefits, and annual fees. These data points were used to build our best overall list of travel credit cards. Factors that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Sign-up bonus (10%)
Rewards: Total annual earnings (8%)
Details: Is cobrand (8%)
Fees: Annual fee (7%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus spend requirement (5%)
Rewards: Airport lounge access (5%)
Rewards: Point/cash travel value (3%)

To make the rankings more relevant to you, we calculated the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards based on sample spending profiles using average annual spending data compiled by the BLS.

Secured

To assemble our overall list of the best secured credit cards, we gathered more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace. Each of those data points was then analyzed based on factors we consider the most relevant for building credit, such as annual fee, interest rate, and maximum credit limit. The data points that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Fees: Annual fee (20%)
Interest: Regular APR (10%)
Secured: Allows upgrade to unsecured (10%)
Secured: Pay deposit in installments (10%)
Secured: Maximum credit limit (8%)
Rewards: Minimum earn rate (5%)
Customer Experience: Free credit score (5%)
Fees: Total number of fees (5%)
Credit Score: Lowest acceptable range (5%)

We created sample spending profiles using the average annual spending data compiled by the BLS to calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards.

Bad Credit

To arrive at the best credit cards for bad credit, we compiled more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace. These data points were weighed against each other based on factors we consider the most relevant for rebuilding credit, such as minimum credit score, interest rate, and annual fee. Those results were used to build our best overall list of credit cards for bad credit. Factors that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Credit score: Lowest acceptable range (20%)
Interest: Regular APR (20%)
Fees: Annual fee (20%)
Fees: Total number of fees (7%)
Customer Experience: Free credit score (5%)

To calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards, we used average annual spending data compiled by the BLS to create sample spending profiles.

Cash Back

To create our overall list of the best cash back credit cards, we compiled more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace. We then analyzed each of those data points and concentrated on factors we consider the most relevant for cash back credit cards, such as earnings rate, annual fee, and welcome bonus. The data points that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Total annual earnings (11%)
Details: Is cobrand (10%)
Fees: Annual fee (7%)
Rewards: Minimum earn rate (7%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (5%)
Rewards: Limit on highest earning tier (5%)
Rewards: Revolving (5%)—this is a deductive score

To summarize the total annual earnings potential of each card’s rewards, we used sample spending profiles based on average annual spending data compiled by the BLS.

Balance Transfer

We compiled more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace to curate our overall list of the best balance transfer credit cards. We then explored each of those data points to consider the most relevant factors when transferring a balance, such as length of promotions, standard transfer rates, and regular APR. The data points that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Interest: Intro balance transfer APR length (30%)
Interest: Intro purchase APR length (15%)
Interest: Ongoing balance transfer APR (10%)
Interest: Intro purchase APR percentage (5%)
Interest: Regular APR (5%)
Interest: Intro balance transfer APR (5%)

Sample spending profiles from average annual spending data compiled by the BLS were used to calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards.

Business

To create the list of the best business credit cards, we compiled more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace. That data was analyzed to pinpoint the factors we consider the most relevant to business owners, such as annual fee, earnings rate, and cost for employee cards. The data points that accounted for at least 3% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Fees: Annual fee (14%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (10%)
Details: Is cobrand (8%)
Rewards: Highest rewards earning rate percentage (5%)
Rewards: Point/cash value (4%)
Fee: Per-employee card fee (3%)
Rewards: Global entry or precheck credit (3%)
Fee: Foreign transaction fee (3%)

To calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards, we used sample spending profiles for businesses based on average annual spending data available from the BLS.

Airline

To create our list of the best airline credit cards, we researched more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace. We studied the data and concentrated on factors we consider the most relevant to airline passengers, such as earnings rate, elite status, and annual fee. The data points that accounted for at least 4% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Total annual earnings (12%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (10%)
Fees: Annual fee (7%)
Rewards: Offers elite status (7%)
Rewards: Global entry or precheck credit (6%)
Fee: Foreign transaction fee (5%)
Rewards: Number of airline partners (4%)
Rewards: Airline earn valuation (4%)

We used sample spending profiles based on average annual spending data available from the BLS to calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards.

Hotel

In order to compile our overall list of the best hotel credit cards, we analyzed more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace. We then weighed each of those data points based on factors we consider the most relevant to hotel guests, such as earnings rate, welcome bonus, and elite status. The data points that accounted for at least 4% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Total annual earnings (12%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (10%)
Fees: Annual fee (7%)
Rewards: Offers elite status (7%)
Rewards: Global entry or precheck credit (5%)
Fee: Foreign transaction fee (5%)
Rewards: Free annual hotel stay (5%)
Rewards: Number of hotel partners (4%)
Rewards: Hotel earn valuation (4%)

In order to calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards, we used sample spending profiles based on average annual spending data compiled by the BLS.

Online Shopping

The list of the best online shopping credit cards was determined by compiling more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace. That data was organized based on factors we consider the most relevant to online shoppers, such as earnings rate, annual fee, and the cash value of rewards. The data points that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Highest rewards earning rate percentage (12%)
Rewards: Total annual earnings (11%)
Fees: Annual fee (10%)
Details: Is cobrand (10%)
Rewards: Points cash value (5%)

We used sample spending profiles based on average annual spending data compiled by the BLS in order to calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards.

Groceries

To create the list of the best grocery credit cards, we reviewed more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace. While analyzing the data, we focused on the factors we consider the most relevant to grocery shoppers, such as total annual earnings, annual fee, and introductory APR promotions. The data points that accounted for at least 3% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Total grocery annual earnings (40%)
Details: Is cobrand (7%)
Fees: Annual fee (5%)
Rewards: Highest rewards earning rate percentage (5%)
Interest: Intro purchase APR length (3%)
Interest: Regular APR (3%)

Sample spending profiles from BLS average annual spending data were used to calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards.

Gas

We compiled more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace to curate our list of the best gas credit cards. We weighed those data points and focused on factors we consider the most relevant when buying gas, such as gas annual earnings, annual fee, and introductory APR promotions. Data points that accounted for at least 3% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Gas annual earnings (40%)
Fees: Annual fee (8%)
Rewards: Highest rewards earning rate percentage (5%)
Interest: Regular APR (3%)
Interest: Intro purchase APR length (3%)

Sample spending profiles using average annual spending data compiled by the BLS were created in order to calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards.

Dining

In order to compile our overall list of the best dining credit cards, we explored more than 70 data points from every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace. That data was weighed based on factors we consider the most relevant when dining out, such as restaurant annual earnings, annual fee, and highest earning percentage. The data points that accounted for at least 3% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Restaurant annual earnings (40%)
Interest: Intro purchase APR length (15%)
Fees: Annual fee (8%)
Details: Is cobrand (7%)
Rewards: Highest rewards earning rate percentage (5%)
Interest: Regular APR (3%)

To calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards, we used average annual spending data from the BLS to create spending profiles of the typical credit card user.

No Annual Fee

To compile our overall list of the best no annual fee credit cards, we researched more than 70 data points about every publicly available credit card we could find in the marketplace. That data was analyzed based on factors we consider the most relevant when avoiding an annual fee, such as total annual earnings, welcome bonus, and APR promotions. The data points that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Total annual earnings (11%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (10%)
Interest: Regular APR (5%)
Rewards: Minimum earn rate (5%)
Interest: Intro purchase APR length (5%)
Interest: Intro balance transfer APR length (5%)

We used average annual spending data compiled by the BLS to create spending profiles in order to calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards.

Capital One

We compiled our overall list of the best credit cards from Capital One using more than 70 data points about every publicly available Capital One credit card offer. Each data point was weighed based on factors we consider the most relevant to Capital One credit cards, such as total annual earnings, annual fee, and welcome bonus. The data points that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Total annual earnings (11%)
Fees: Annual fee (10%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (10%)
Interest: Intro balance transfer APR length (5%)
Rewards: Minimum earn rate (5%)

To calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards, sample spending profiles were created using average annual spending data compiled by the BLS.

Chase

The best credit cards from Chase were selected by compiling and ranking more than 70 data points about every publicly available Chase credit card offer. We focused on factors that we consider the most relevant to Chase credit cards, such as cobrand partners, annual fee, and welcome bonus. The data points that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Details: Is cobrand (12%)
Fees: Annual fee (10%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (7%)
Rewards: Total annual earnings (6%)
Rewards: Minimum earn rate (5%)
Rewards: Point/cash value (5%)

Average annual spending data compiled by the BLS was used to create sample spending profiles so that we could calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards.

Citi

Our list of the best credit cards from Citi was compiled using more than 70 data points about every publicly available Citi credit card offer. These data points were ranked based on factors we consider the most relevant to Citi credit cards, such as cobrand partners, annual fee, and welcome bonus. The data points worth at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Details: Is cobrand (12%)
Fees: Annual fee (10%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (7%)
Rewards: Total annual earnings (6%)
Rewards: Minimum earn rate (5%)
Rewards: Point/cash value (5%)

To calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards, we used sample spending profiles based on average annual spending data compiled by the BLS.

Amex

In order to compile our overall list of the best credit cards from American Express, we analyzed more than 70 data points about every publicly available American Express credit card offer. We then weighed each of those data points based on factors we consider the most relevant to American Express credit cards, such as cobrand partners, annual fee, and welcome bonus. The data points used to build our best overall list of American Express credit cards that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Details: Is cobrand (12%)
Fees: Annual fee (10%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (7%)
Rewards: Total annual earnings (6%)
Rewards: Minimum earn rate (5%)
Rewards: Point/cash value (5%)

In order to calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards, we used sample spending profiles based on average annual spending data compiled by the BLS.

Wells Fargo (filtered by issuer)

The list of the best credit cards from Wells Fargo is based upon more than 70 data points about every publicly available Wells Fargo credit card offer. Those data points were examined and ranked according to factors we consider the most relevant to Wells Fargo credit cards, such as cobrand partners, annual fee, and welcome bonus. The data points that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Total annual earnings (12%)
Details: Is cobrand (9%)
Fees: Annual fee (7%)
Rewards: Point/cash value (7%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (7%)

Sample spending profiles based on average annual spending data compiled by the BLS were used to calculate the total annual earnings of each card’s rewards.

Bank of America

Our overall list of the best credit cards from Bank of America was compiled using more than 70 data points about every publicly available Bank of America credit card offer. We then weighed each of those data points based on factors we consider the most relevant to Bank of America credit cards, such as total annual earnings, cobrand partners, and annual fee. The data points that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Total annual earnings (12%)
Details: Is cobrand (9%)
Fees: Annual fee (7%)
Rewards: Point/cash value (7%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (7%)

The total annual earnings of each card’s rewards was calculated using sample spending profiles based on average annual spending data compiled by the BLS.

US Bank

We gathered more than 70 data points about every publicly available US Bank credit card offer to compile our overall list of the best credit cards from US Bank. These data points were analyzed with a focus on the factors we consider the most relevant to US Bank credit cards, such as total annual earnings, cobrand partners, and annual fee. The data points that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Total annual earnings (12%)
Details: Is cobrand (9%)
Fees: Annual fee (7%)
Rewards: Point/cash value (7%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (7%)

In order to calculate the total annual rewards earned by each US Bank credit card, we used sample spending profiles based on average annual spending data compiled by the BLS.

Discover

To create our list of the best credit cards from Discover, we compiled more than 70 data points about every publicly available Discover credit card offer. Those data points were weighed and ranked based on factors we consider the most relevant to Discover credit cards, such as total annual earnings, cobrand partners, and annual fee. The data points that accounted for at least 5% of each card’s overall rating are listed below:

Rewards: Total annual earnings (12%)
Details: Is cobrand (9%)
Fees: Annual fee (7%)
Rewards: Point/cash value (7%)
Rewards: Sign-up bonus (7%)

To calculate the total annual earnings of each Discover card’s rewards, we used sample spending profiles based on average annual spending data compiled by the BLS.