Best Credit Cards of March 2021

We think this card is a worthy addition to anyone’s wallet. The HSBC Cash Rewards card touts a great rewards scheme for a simple cash-back card: You’ll get double cash-back (3%, instead of the normal but competitive 1.5%) on every purchase for one year, up to $10,000 spent on purchases. After that, you’ll earn an unlimited 1.5% back on everything, so there are no bonus categories or additional earning limits to worry about. There’s a nice 12-month-long 0% APR offer that could help you finance a large purchase or two, and like all good cash-back rewards cards, you won’t pay an annual fee. 

• 1.5% Unlimited Cash Back – on all purchases after the intro period
• No Annual Fee
• No Foreign Transaction Fees

Read the full HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® Review

Our top pick for small business owners is particularly great if you travel for work. This card offers 3 points per $1 spent on all travel booked online through the Bank of America Travel Center (operated by Expedia), and then 1.5 points per $1 on all other expenses, which is great considering most cards offer just 1 point back per $1 spent outside of any bonus categories. There’s no limit on how many points you can earn, either. If you have enough in a Bank of America deposit account, you’ll get a boost on both of these rewards rates, too. We also like how easy it is to use rewards earned with this card: Just use this card to pay for your trip booked with any travel provider, and then redeem your points for a statement credit later.  

• Earn 30,000 bonus points when you make at least $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of your account opening which can be redeemed for a $300 statement credit towards travel purchases.
• Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases, everywhere, every time – no matter how much you spend.
• Earn 3 points per every dollar spent when you book your travel (car, hotel, airline) through the Bank of America Travel Center.
• Get 75% more points on the base earn of every purchase you make when you’re a Preferred Rewards for Business Platinum Honors tier member. That means you'll earn 2.62 points on all purchases and 4.12 points for every $1 you spend at the Bank of America Travel Center.

Read the full Business Advantage Travel Rewards Credit Card Review

If you’re all about cards that can increase the amount of cash-back rewards you earn each day, look no further. This card offers extra rewards on seven different types of purchases, which is quite the line-up for a no-annual-fee card like this. You’ll earn 3% back on purchases such as dining out, gas, travel (even AirBnB stays count), and popular streaming service subscriptions like Spotify Premium, Netflix, and Hulu. A competitive new-cardholder bonus rounds out this card offer, too. Spend $1,000 within three months of opening your account (so just $334 per month, on average) to get 20,000 bonus points worth $200 when redeemed for cash back or statement credits. 

• 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – a $200 cash redemption value.
• Earn 3 points on the following: eating out/ordering in, gas, rideshares, transit, flights, hotels, homestays, car rentals, and popular streaming services.
• $0 annual fee.
• No limit to points you can earn, and points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• Cell phone protection offers insurance against your cell phone from damage or theft.

Read the full Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card Review

This card boasts decent rewards, a below-average APR, a great welcome bonus, and a little something extra for cardholders who get good grades, which makes it an all-around exceptional credit card for students. On top of a little extra cash-back on dinners out and gas-tank refills, Discover will double all the cash-back earned your first year for an atypical (but generous) new-cardholder bonus. You get a $20 bonus every year your GPA is above 3.0 (for up to five years). This card also stands out from other student cards because it waives your first late fee. You should, of course, strive to make on-time payments, but it's nice to know you won't have to pay an extra fee for a one-time mistake as you learn the ropes of building credit.

• Get $20 statement credit each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next five years.
• Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter.
• Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
• Cashback Match - Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. There's no limit to how much they'll match.

Read the full Discover it® Chrome for Students Review

This card has a sky-high annual fee, but its rich rewards-earning rates on travel and restaurant purchases, a $300 annual credit toward travel, and superior travel perks (like unlimited access to participating airport lounges) make it more than worthwhile for the frequent traveler. Plus, you’ll get some terrific flexibility when you redeem your reward points. You can use them to book your choice of airline or hotel through Chase Ultimate Rewards or transfer them (at a 1-to-1 ratio) to a partner airline or hotel rewards programs, which may also boost their value. For example, The Balance found your points may be worth about 2.19 cents each (up from 1.5 cents apiece) when you transfer them to the United Airlines MileagePlus frequent flyer program. 

• Receive 50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get an annual $300 travel credit for eligible purchases charged to your card each anniversary year.
• Earn 3 points on travel (excluding purchases eligible for the travel credit), restaurants, and dining. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases.
• Points are worth 50% more when you redeem them for travel through Chase's Ultimate Rewards portal.
• Transfer points 1:1 to eligible Ultimate Rewards airline and hotel partner programs.

Read the full Chase Sapphire Reserve® Review

If you’re a first-time borrower or rebuilding a bad credit profile, finding a first-class secured card can be tough. Thankfully, this is it. You’ll earn some decent cash back on routine purchases, and at the end of your first year, the rewards you earned the first year will double. You won’t pay an annual fee (many secured cards charge one), and Discover will even waive your first late fee. Plus, after eight months, Discover will begin reviewing your account for a possible upgrade to an unsecured card.

• No annual fee, earn cash back, and build your credit with responsible use.
• It's a real credit card. You can build a credit history with the three major credit bureaus. Generally, debit and prepaid cards can't help you build a credit history.
• Automatic reviews starting at 8 months to see if Discover can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
• Get 100% U.S.-based customer service and get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO Credit Score.

Read the full Discover it® Secured Review

The steep earning rate on eligible hotel bookings, generous welcome offer, and the flexibility that Amex Membership Rewards offers makes this premium travel card worth its annual cost. You’ll earn 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotel reservations booked through amextravel.com, which is a great return considering the solid average value of each point (1.14 cents each). An annual $100 credit you can earn by using this card at partner hotel or resort properties, extra property perks, and automatic elite status within either the Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs round out this remarkable hotel card. 

• Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 6 months.
• Chose an eligible airline and recieve a $200 annual airline fee credit.
• Enjoy Global Lounge Collection access as a cardholder, which includes access to the Centurion Lounge.

Read the full Platinum Card® from American Express Review

This card gives you 18 months to pay off balance transfers, which is one of the longest 0% balance transfer APR offers on the market right now. Long 0% APR periods spread out the financial burden of debt repayment while cutting interest costs. Plus, you’ll have four months after opening an account to take advantage of the balance transfer promotion, which is longer than some similar cards offer. That gives you time to strategize your debt repayment plan.

• Low intro APR for 18 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers.
• $0 annual fee.
• Account protection features such as $0 Liability protection for promptly reported unauthorized transactions, alerts, and cell phone protection.
• My Money Map tools to help you manage spending and create a budget with ease.
• Access to your FICO Credit Score with Wells Fargo Online.

Read the full Wells Fargo Platinum Card Review