Best Credit Cards for People with Excellent Credit
At a Glance
After working for potentially years to bolster your credit score, it’s only natural to want to seek out the best of the best in terms of credit cards. Finding the best credit cards for excellent credit can be a challenge, but the following guide will outline some of the key options to consider in your search.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Comparing the best credit cards for excellent credit
For a high-level overview of the best rewards credit card for excellent credit, the below table will highlight the most important aspects to consider:
| Credit Card |
Rewards Rate |
Welcome Offer |
|---|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Reserve |
Earn 5x points on flights, earn 10x points on hotels and car rentals, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and other travel worldwide, and earn 10x points on Chase dining purchases. | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
American Express Platinum Card |
Earn 5x points on flights booked through American Express Travel, 5x points on prepaid hotels, and 1x on all other purchases | Earn 80,000 membership rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases within 6 months of opening the account. |
American Express Gold Card |
4x membership rewards points at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and at U.S. supermarkets, 3x membership rewards points on flights, and 1x membership rewards points on all other eligible purchases. | 60,000 Rewards Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months. |
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card |
Earn 10x points on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel, 5x on miles booked through Capital One Travel, and 2x miles on all other everyday purchases | Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. |
Discover it Cash Back |
5% cash back on everyday purchases each quarter up to the quarterly amount and 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically. Unlimited cash back match for the first year. | None |
American Express Green Card |
Earn 3x points on travel, 3x points on transit, 3x points on dining and restaurants, and 1x on all other purchases. | Earn 60,000 membership rewards points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of opening the account. |
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card |
Earn 3% back in a category of your choice, 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 1% on all other purchases. | Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. |
A closer look at the best credit cards for those with excellent credit score
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
For the Always on the Road
Reward Rate:
Upto 10X
Reward Details:
Earn 5x points on flights, earn 10x points on hotels and car rentals, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and other travel worldwide, and earn 10x points on Chase dining purchases.
Card Summary
Signup bonus:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Our verdict
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is one of the best credit cards for people with excellent credit due to the number of benefits it provides. However, these benefits are specifically geared towards travel, which is why the Reserve card is best for those who travel for work or pleasure often. Given the high annual fee, it’s important to be sure that the benefits balance out the cost of owning this card based on your spending habits.
Annual Fee:$550
Regular APR: 22.24%–29.24%
Recommended
Credit Score: Excellent 
Pros and Cons
- High rewards earning rates across multiple categories
- Large sign up bonus upon meeting the minimum spend requirement
- The credit card has a high annual fee
- The APR range for the credit card is quite high
The Platinum Card® from American Express
For the Avid Traveller
Reward Rate:
1X-5X</p >
Reward Details:
Earn 5x points on flights booked through American Express Travel, 5x points on prepaid hotels, and 1x on all other purchases
Card Summary
Signup bonus:
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Our verdict
The American Express Platinum Card is another excellent option for those who are constantly traveling. Of the best cards for excellent credit, this one stands out in particular due to the large bonus offer that it provides, with nearly $1,000 in credits that can be used for hotel stays, flights, or any other similar item.
Annual Fee: $695
Regular APR: 20.99% to 28.99%
Recommended
Credit Score: Excellent
Pros and Cons
- A large welcome bonus that amounts to just shy of $1,000 in benefits
- Multiple rewards earning categories based on spending habits
- The card has a large annual fee associated with it
- The APR rate for the card can get quite high for those with sub-excellent credit
- There is no introductory APR period
American Express Gold Card
For the The Pantry Stocker
Reward Rate:
1X-4X
Reward Details:
4x membership rewards points at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and at U.S. supermarkets, 3x membership rewards points on flights, and 1x membership rewards points on all other eligible purchases.
Card Summary
Signup bonus:
60,000 Rewards Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months.
Our verdict
For those who are constantly eating out, the American Express Gold Card is an excellent option to consider. With 4x points back on both groceries and dining, this is certainly a best credit card for excellent credit score to keep in mind. Additionally, the lower annual fee makes this a more affordable option as compared to the Platinum card.
Annual Fee:$250
Regular APR: 20.99% to 28.99%
Recommended
Credit Score: Excellent
Pros and Cons
- Large sign-up bonus associated with the cared
- Lower annual fee than other cards on the list
- Multiple rewards earning categories
- No introductory APR period
- Earnings categories are geared towards food-related purchases
Capital One Venture X Card
For the Social Butterfly
Reward Rate:
2X-10X
Reward Details:
Earn 10x points on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel, 5x on miles booked through Capital One Travel, and 2x miles on all other everyday purchases
Card Summary
Signup bonus:
Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Our verdict
For those who may not have a large amount to spend while traveling, but who spend a large amount of money on the travel method itself, the Venture X card is one to consider. When looking at the best credit card for excellent credit rating, the Venture X stands out due to the fact that it offers miles back instead of points. This is particularly helpful for personal travelers who seek some flights for free.
Annual Fee:$395
Regular APR: 21.74% – 28.74%
Recommended
Credit Score: Excellent
Pros and Cons
- Large miles-back earning categories
- Large welcome bonus for those who apply
- More points back on everyday purchases as compared to other cards
- Slightly high annual fee as compared to other cards
- High variable APR rates to consider
Discover it Cash Back
For the Everyday Carry
Reward Rate:
1%-5%
Reward Details:
5% cash back on everyday purchases each quarter up to the quarterly amount and 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically. Unlimited cash back match for the first year.
Card Summary
Signup bonus:
NA
Our verdict
The Discover It Cash Back card should be a staple card in anyone’s wallet who has excellent credit. Offering an impressive 5% back in cash on everyday purchases per quarter in applicable categories, this card offers a higher rate than most other rewards cards. Additionally, their unlimited cash back match for the first year makes this an excellent card to consider using for larger purchases.
Annual Fee: None
Regular APR: 16.99%-27.99%
Recommended
Credit Score: Excellent
Pros and Cons
- Long lasting introductory APR period
- Low starting APR for those on the higher end of excellent credit
- No annual fee with the card
- High earnings rewards rate on everyday purchases per quarter
- No sign up bonus offered with the card
American Express Green Card
For the Foodie
Reward Rate:
1X-3X
Reward Details:
Earn 3x points on travel, 3x points on transit, 3x points on dining and restaurants, and 1x on all other purchases.
Card Summary
Signup bonus:
Earn 60,000 membership rewards points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of opening the account.
Our verdict
The American Express Green Card is another excellent choice to carry around in your wallet on a daily basis. With 3x points back on food purchases, this card can be a go-to for any meal. However, it also offers great perks for travel purchases made with the card, regardless of where those purchases are made, making it also excellent for avid travelers.
Annual Fee: $150
Regular APR: 20.99%-28.99%
Recommended
Credit Score: Excellent
Pros and Cons
- Low annual fee associated with the card
- Large welcome bonus offer for new applicants
- Multiple ways to earn points back with the card
- No introductory APR period offered
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
For the Avid Shopper
Reward Rate:
1%-3%
Reward Details:
Earn 3% back in a category of your choice, 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 1% on all other purchases.
Card Summary
Signup bonus:
Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Our verdict
The Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card offered by Bank of America is one of the best cash back credit cards for excellent credit due to the fact that it is geared towards those who understand their spending habits. By being able to choose the category in which the 3% cash back is earned (based on listed categories) a person can tailor their rewards to match their spending, making this a valuable card to hold.
Annual Fee: None
Regular APR: 17.99% to 27.99% variable.
Recommended
Credit Score: Excellent
Pros and Cons
- Long-lasting introductory APR period and on balance transfers
- Customizable earning category
- No annual fee for the card
- Low sign-up bonus compared to other offers
How to choose a credit card when you have excellent credit
Choosing a credit card when you have an excellent credit score is actually far more difficult than it may seem at first glance, primarily due to having so many different options. To that end, there are a few beneficial tips for determining which credit card is right for you:
- Evaluate your spending habits to see which credit cards align most with your spending
- Consider the various bonus benefits offered by each card and think about whether you will use them
- Look at whether or not the card has an annual fee and whether it’s worth it for you
- Think about the cards you already have in your wallet to ensure the benefits don’t overlap with the card you are considering
Credit card perks with excellent credit
Putting the benefit of each credit card for those with excellent credit into perspective is a challenge, but rest assured knowing that with excellent credit comes excellent perks. Some of the standouts include access to airport lounges, favorable interest rates compared to other cards, higher credit scores, and earning rewards that pay cash back with every purchase.
Tips to maintain an excellent credit score
Once you have achieved a high credit score, the last thing you want is for that credit score to crash and burn after all your hard work. That’s why learning how to maintain a high credit score is so important. Below are a few key tips to keep in mind in order to achieve this goal:
- Make all payments on time and in full, if possible
- Utilize 10-30% of your credit during a billing cycle with an emphasis on targeting the lower end
- Consolidate your balances so that you aren’t penalized for carrying too many accounts
- Plan out any debt that you are thinking about taking out
- Notify your card issuer of any potential fraud or relocations you are considering
Methodology
When compiling the best credit card offers for excellent credit, a number of key factors were used for the methodology. First and foremost, the rewards rate was the leading factor that was considered when looking at credit cards. Whether or not a fair rate was offered, and the whether there were bonus rewards categories, was the primary consideration.
Additionally, whether the card had an annual fee and how high it was, in relation to the benefits provided by the card, played a role in the ratings. Finally, any additional benefits offered by the card such as access to airport lounges, credit card rewards portals for point redemptions, or anything else were used to finalize the determination for which cards deserved a place on the list.
The product information provided here is based on research conducted up to a specific date and may have changed. For the latest and most accurate information, we recommend you to visit the respective card’s website before proceeding.
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