Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards

If you're looking for credit card information or trying to find the best cards, you've come to the right place.

Get the facts on credit card fees and programs, consumer and fraud protection, and learn how to use credit cards wisely (get the benefits without the debt). 

Choose Card by Reward Type:

Get money back or a free flight by using your credit card for everyday purchases.

Best Travel Reward Credit Cards
Top picks for your first travel rewards card.

Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Top cashback credit cards for those who prefer money over travel rewards.

Best Airline Miles Credit Cards
Choose the right credit card that matches your preferred airline and earn the biggest bonuses.

Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Transfer your credit card debt to a 0% balance transfer card and save big on interest.

The Best Credit Card Offer

ChaseThe Chase Freedom Visa credit card offer is a great cash back card that features an incredible $200 bonus. To qualify, you need to spend $500 in the first three months.

Once you earn the reward, you continue to get 5% back on common purchases, such as gas and groceries. Click here to apply.

Credit Card Articles

6 Awesome Credit Card Tricks That Will Save You Money
Learn how to double sign-up bonuses, extend billing periods to 55 days, and earn rewards without wasting a dime.

The 5 Best Credit Cards for Groceries
If the majority of your shopping is at the grocery store and gas station, then these cards will help maximize your rewards.

Which Type of Rewards Credit Card is Right for You?
Choose the rewards credit card that works best for your current situation.

Free Travel with Credit Cards
Earning free travel with rewards credit cards is legitimate, ethical, and profitable for all of the parties involved.

The Best Credit Cards for Budget Hotels
These credit cards are great if you're a frugal traveler and want to make the most of your free travel rewards at cheaper hotels.

How to Buy and Sell Airline Miles
Tips on buying, selling, and transferring your frequent flyer miles for cash or other rewards.

Credit Card Rewards Programs
With countless rewards programs available these days, how do you choose a credit card that offers the right program for you? Here is a breakdown of the kinds of programs available and how to get the most out of your rewards.

No Limit, No Interest: What’s the Deal with Charge Cards?
The main features of charge cards are no revolving credit (the balance must be paid in full each month) and no pre-set credit limit (this does not mean no limit at all).

The Dirty Secrets of Credit Cards
Get the lowdown on some of the dirty practices credit card companies play when we're not looking.

Credit Card Fees: Hidden and Otherwise
One way to prevent extra credit card fees is to know how--and where--credit card companies will charge you. Here, credit card jargon is explained, plus some tips on what to watch out for.

New Credit Card Rules: Who Really Benefits?
Does the new credit card bill encourage renewed credit spending by protecting us too well?

How Will the New Credit Card Rules Affect Consumers?
A new bill that the Senate passed will change how the credit card industry works. Here is a run-down of the new rules and how they will affect you.

Lower Credit Card Rates? Just Ask!
If you want to lower your interest rate and fees, just ask for it! Here's how you can go about getting what you want out of your credit card company

10 Tricks to Save Money with Credit Cards
If you are careful about how you use your credit cards, you may actually come out ahead by using them, rather than if you just stuck to cash. Here are some actual strategies we can use to get the most out of our credit cards.

Personal or Business? Parameters for Choosing a Credit Card
We've all got our different reasons for making a particular product choice, and it's no different when it comes to shopping for a credit card.

10 Reasons Why I Prefer Credit Cards Over Cash
Silicon Valley Blogger explains how she uses her credit cards to maximize benefit without incurring fees.

Top Seven Reasons Why I Use My Credit Card for Everything
Nora explains why she uses her credit card for everything, but still avoids falling into the trap of building credit card debt.

Debit Or Credit? Which One Should You Choose At The Checkout
With various incentives and drawbacks in play, choosing between debit and credit is more than deciding whether to pay now or later. And as it happens, banks and stores care which method you use, too.

A Guaranteed Way To Avoid Impulse Credit Card Purchases
If you think you've tried everything to prevent impulse credit card purchases and you know you'll regret later, here's one that will cool down your urge in a jiffy.

How to Take Advantage of Free Extended Warranty from Your Credit Card Issuer
If you have a broken product whose manufacturer’s warranty has run out, another way to fix it (for free!) is to turn to free extended warranty offered by credit card companies.

Can Your Spending Patterns Affect Your Credit?
Regardless of how fiscally cautious and responsible you are as a credit card holder, you may still be curious to know just how much credit card companies know about you through your card use. The truth is, our card spending patterns provide information that is monitored by issuers; and this data has been used to affect our credit ratings.

Is Your Credit Score Suffering Without Your Knowledge?
It's easy to hurt your credit score when you don't know when your credit limit has decreased. Here's what can happen, and how you can protect yourself.

Debit Cards vs. Credit Cards: Fees and Fraud Protection
Hefty overdraft fees and less effective fraud protection are two reasons why people hesitate to use debit cards, opting for credit instead. But how does debit actually stack up against credit in these areas?

Dealing with Credit Card and Merchant Disputes
Federal law gives you the right to withhold credit card payment for defective products and services. But there are rules to follow, and some hoops to jump through.

Insider's Tip: How Rewards Credit Cards End Up Costing You More
A former employee of a credit card issuer provided some interesting information from the inside about consumer behavior with rewards cards.

Credit Card Insurance? No Thanks.
Credit card companies have a knack for making their protection insurance sound attractive over the phone, but as always, don't sign on to anything without doing the necessary research. Here's what you should know and what you need to find out.

How to Avoid Getting Your Credit Card Canceled
Some people like to have their credit card available for emergencies, but be careful: that card might not be available to you, just when you need it the most. This article explores the various reasons why your credit card could be canceled on you, along with some tips to help avoid having your own credit card canceled -- possibly without notice.