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Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit in 2023

Updated on:

Why use LendingTree? We are committed to providing accurate content that helps you make informed money decisions. The content on this page has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any credit card issuer. We do maintain partnerships with some issuers, and our site may be compensated through those partnerships. Read our .

The information related to the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

Citi is an advertising partner.

Chase Sapphire Preferred<sup>®</sup> Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is our top pick for excellent credit, due to its exceptional earning rate, valuable sign-up bonus and reasonable annual fee. This card also earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, some of the most valuable and versatile rewards points around.

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site

If you have an excellent credit score (a FICO Score above 800 or a VantageScore above 780) you’ll find yourself with a large array of credit cards to choose from — including our picks for the best credit cards around.

Credit cards for excellent credit come with a luxurious range of perks. You’ll find generous sign-up bonuses (often worth $500 or more) and rewards rates of 2% on average, as well as annual travel credits, consumer protections and complimentary travel insurance. Cards may also come with intro APRs for purchases and/or balance transfers lasting 12 months or longer, allowing you to consolidate debt or pay down a large purchase.

These can be difficult credit cards to get, but if your credit score is “very good” or “exceptional,” there’s a good chance you can qualify for one of the cards below.

Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit in 2023

Winner (best for travel)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site
Best cash back credit card for excellent credit

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site
Best high limit credit card for excellent credit

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site
Best Mastercard for excellent credit

Citi Double Cash^® Card
Rates & Fees

Apply Now

on Citibank's secure site
Rates & Fees
Best business credit card for excellent credit

Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Rates & Fees

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site
Rates & Fees
Best hotel credit card for excellent credit

Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express

Learn More
Airline credit card for excellent credit

United Quest℠ Card

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site

Winner (travel credit card for excellent credit)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

LendingTree's Review

4.7

LendingTree's Review

4.7

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site

Earns flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points
No foreign transaction fees
Generous rewards rate in several categories
Large sign-up bonus
Excellent travel insurance benefits

Earns just 1X points on regular purchases
No premium travel benefits like airport lounge access
No intro offer for purchases or balance transfers
High APR

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is the best travel credit card for excellent credit for a few reasons — starting the fact it earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which transfer to Chase airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus on this card is also generous, and so is its earning rate for travel purchases, dining, online grocery purchases and more. You’ll even get 25% more value when you redeem points for travel through the Chase portal.

Who’s this card best for?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is best if you have great credit and want to earn flexible rewards for travel without paying a huge annual fee. It has a $95 annual fee, but you can easily make up the fee through the card’s benefits, including a large sign-up bonus in the first year. The card gives you generous ongoing rewards in several purchase categories, including dining, travel and online grocery purchases.

Major perks include an annual hotel benefit (worth $50), 25% more value for points when booking travel through Chase and a suite of travel insurance perks. You’ll get trip cancellation and interruption coverage, primary auto rental coverage, baggage delay insurance, trip delay coverage, travel and emergency assistance services and more.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card also comes with no foreign transaction fees, making it an ideal option for trips overseas.

Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
Member FDIC

Cash back credit card for excellent credit

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

LendingTree's Review

4.6

LendingTree's Review

4.6

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site

Earn 3% to 5% back in several bonus categories
Earn 1.5% cash back on everything else
No annual fee
Intro APR for purchases and balance transfers

Charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
High APR after introductory offer

While many 1.5% cash back cards offer the same rate on everything, the Chase Freedom Unlimited^® has an advantage — it also offers bonus rewards on dining, drugstores and Chase travel purchases. This makes it one of the highest earning cash back cards around.

Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases

The Chase Freedom Unlimited^® also comes with a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months (followed by a 19.99% - 28.74% Variable APR).

INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
Member FDIC

High limit credit card for excellent credit

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

LendingTree's Review

4.9

LendingTree's Review

4.9

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site

Generous sign-up bonus and earning rate for dining and travel
Points transfer to Chase airline and hotel partners
Comes with exceptional travel perks and benefits
Includes several travel insurance protections

$550 annual fee applies
No introductory APR offer
High APR

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is a Visa Infinite card, which means its minimum credit limit is automatically set at $10,000 for those who qualify. This card also comes with a generous sign-up bonus, great earning rates on dining and travel and point flexibility that lets cardholders transfer their rewards to Chase airline and hotel partners.

Who’s this card best for?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is best if you’re a traveler who values flexibility and is willing to pay for a card with premium benefits. With a $550 annual fee, it’s not for someone who travels only once or twice a year.

You’ll earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points with this card, which can be redeemed for travel through Chase with 50% more value built in. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel. You can also transfer your points at a 1:1 value to the following travel partners:

Aer Lingus AerClub
Air Canada Aeroplan
British Airways Executive Club
Emirates Skywards
Flying Blue Air France KLM
Iberia Plus
JetBlue TrueBlue
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
United MileagePlus
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
IHG Rewards Club
Marriott Bonvoy
World of Hyatt

Plus, you can take this card abroad with no worries since the foreign transaction fee is $0. Cardholders also get a $300 annual travel credit — it’s automatically applied to travel purchases charged to their card, wiping out more than half of the annual fee. Finally, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® comes with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership (valued at $469), which offers access to more than 1,300 airport lounges around the world.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Member FDIC

Mastercard for excellent credit

Citi Double Cash^® Card

LendingTree's Review

4.8

LendingTree's Review

4.8

Apply Now

on Citibank's secure site

Rates & Fees

Up to 2% cash back
$0 annual fee
Flexible rewards redemptions
Generous intro APR offer for balance transfers
Valuable sign-up bonus

Intro APR offer does not apply to purchases
You only receive the second 1% cash back when you pay towards your balance
High APR
Charges 3% in foreign transaction fees

The Citi Double Cash^® Card offers an excellent earning rate (up to 2% cash back), along with a long introductory APR offer for balance transfers — the fact that there’s no annual fee is just icing on the cake.

Who’s this card best for?

A flat-rate cash back card like the Citi Double Cash^® Card is best if you want to earn the same generous rate of cash back on everything you buy without having to worry about bonus categories or complex rewards schemes. The card also comes with a lengthy intro APR period on balance transfers, so it’s a good choice for those who need to pay off high-interest debt from another credit card — you’ll get 0% intro APR for 18 months on Balance Transfers; after that, a 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable) APR applies.

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% - 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Business credit card for excellent credit

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

LendingTree's Review

4.7

LendingTree's Review

4.7

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site

Rates & Fees

Generous earning rate and sign-up bonus
No preset spending limit
Annual spending bonus of $200 available
No foreign transaction fees

Card must be paid in full each month to avoid penalty
Spending requirement for sign-up bonus and annual bonus is high
$150 annual fee applies

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is great for business owners who want to earn generous flat-rate rewards with no set spending limit. And while it charges a $150 annual fee, you can easily make that up with its unlimited 2% rewards rate — especially if your business has a large budget.

Who’s this card best for?

Because the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a charge card — meaning it must be paid in full each month — it’s best for business owners who want to maximize cash back without ever carrying a balance. This card’s bonus offer is also geared to business owners who spend a lot. Beyond the 2% in rewards cardholders can earn on all purchases, you can also $2000 Cash Back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year.

While a $150 annual fee applies, you can also earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $200,000 on purchases within a membership year — more than making up for the annual fee.

Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. You can earn this bonus multiple times over the course of year 1!
Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
Enjoy purchasing power that adapts to your business. The Spark Cash Plus card has no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history, credit profile and other factors
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Empower your teams to make business purchases while you earn rewards from their transactions with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
$150 annual fee - Spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year
Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by third parties such as Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply
For businesses that need large spending capacity and want to maximize cash back

Hotel credit card for excellent credit

Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express*

LendingTree's Review

Learn More

Generous welcome offer and earning rate applies
Comes with several travel credits worth hundreds each year
Get automatic Hilton Diamond status (enrollment required)
Automatically get a free night every year
Comes with a Priority Pass™ Select membership (valued at $469, enrollment required)

$550 annual fee applies
Points can only be used for hotel stays and a handful of other options

We picked the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express in this category for its generous welcome offer and complimentary benefits. The welcome offer alone can be worth several free nights in a Hilton property the first year.

Who’s this card best for?

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express is aimed at travelers who frequent Hilton properties and don’t mind paying a $550 annual fee for a card with luxury travel benefits. Cardholders get complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status*, which comes with benefits like 100% bonus points on all base points you earn and room upgrades, among others. Plus, you can get one free night reward every year you have the card and earn an additional night if you spend $60,000 on purchases in a calendar year.

Other perks include a $250 Hilton resort credit statement each year, up to a $250 airline fee credit*, a $100 on-property credit, Priority Pass™ Select membership* (valued at $469) and more.

*Enrollment required for these benefits

14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio worldwide
7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and at U.S. restaurants
3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases
Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status (enrollment required)
One Free Night Reward in your first year of Card Membership and every year upon Card renewal
Up to $400 Hilton Resort credit
Up to $200 flight credit (up to $50 per quarter)
Up to $199 CLEAR credit (enrollment required)
$100 on-property credit at Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts when booking the exclusive Aspire Card package
National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® Status (enrollment required)
Access to 24/7 American Express concierge
No foreign transaction fees
Terms apply

*The information related to the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

Airline credit card for excellent credit

United Quest℠ Card

LendingTree's Review

3.4

LendingTree's Review

3.4

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site

Generous sign-up bonus
High earning rate on United, travel and dining purchases
Free checked bags, priority boarding and other perks
Lets you earn PQP toward elite status with United
Comes with travel insurance benefits and consumer protections
No foreign transaction fees

$250 annual fee required
High APR

We picked the United Quest℠ Card due to its generous bonus offer and the free perks you get just for being a cardholder. We also like the fact this card lets members rack up Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) to use toward elite status.

Who’s this card best for?

Due to its $250 annual fee, the United Quest Card is likely best if you travel with United Airlines or its partners at least a few times per year. Perks include a $125 United credit each year (that applies to airfare), first and second checked bags free for the cardholder and a companion, priority boarding, 25% back on eligible in-flight purchases and the chance to earn even more PQP with enough regular spending.

In addition, United flyers can quickly rack up valuable United miles, thanks to the card’s earning rate, which includes a generous bonus on United, travel and dining purchases.

Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP after qualifying purchases
Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining and select streaming services
Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and priority boarding
Up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year (terms apply)
Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)
Member FDIC

Side-by-side comparison of the best cards for excellent credit

Credit Cards	Our Ratings	Welcome Offer	Annual Fee	Rewards Rate
Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card Apply Now on Chase's secure site	4.7 Winner	Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.	$95	Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.	Apply Now on Chase's secure site
Chase Freedom Unlimited^® Apply Now on Chase's secure site	4.6 Cash back	Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.	$0	Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases	Apply Now on Chase's secure site
Chase Sapphire Reserve^® Apply Now on Chase's secure site	4.9 High limit	Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.	$550	Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.	Apply Now on Chase's secure site
Citi Double Cash^® Card Apply Now on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees	4.8 Mastercard	Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.	$0	Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.	Apply Now on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees	4.7 Business	$2000 Cash Back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year	$150	Earn 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel	Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express* Learn More	4.0 Hotel	Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.	$550	14X points on eligible purchases at hotels or resorts in the Hilton Portfolio, 7X points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and U.S. restaurants and 3X points on other purchases	Learn More
United Quest℠ Card Apply Now on Chase's secure site	3.4 Airline	Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.	$250	3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases. 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, select streaming services & all other travel. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, each year, receive up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits (terms apply) and earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points.	Apply Now on Chase's secure site

*The information for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms Apply.

What is an excellent credit score?

An “excellent” credit score depends on the credit scoring model being used. As you can see from the charts below, the FICO scoring model says an 800 credit score to 850 is “exceptional” while the VantageScore model labels scores between 781 and 850 as “excellent.”

With these ranges in mind, you may have a chance at qualifying for the best cash back credit cards for excellent credit or best rewards or travel cards in this niche if your score is “good,” “very good” or excellent with either of these scoring models.

FICO Score

Credit rating	Credit score
Poor credit	300 to 579
Fair credit	580 to 669
Good credit	670 to 739
Very good credit	740 to 799
Exceptional credit	800 to 850

VantageScore

Credit rating	Credit score
Very poor credit	300 to 499
Poor credit	500 to 600
Fair credit	601 to 660
Good credit	661 to 780
Excellent credit	781 to 850

How to get an excellent credit score

If you check your credit score and find that it falls short of the “excellent” credit range, there are moves you can take to move your score up a notch or two. The following tips can help you improve your credit score over time:

Pay all your bills on time

Since your payment history is the biggest determinant of your credit score, you’ll want to make paying your bills early or on time a priority. If you’re worried about paying bills late, or if you’ve done so in the past, consider setting up some of your bills on autopay.
Pay down some of your revolving debt

Paying down credit card debt can help lower your credit utilization ratio, which is the second most important factor that determines your FICO Score. Most experts suggest keeping your credit utilization below 30% of your available credit for the best results.
Use apps to build credit

You can use an app to help you build credit through payments you’re already making. For example, the Experian Boost app lets you get credit for utility bills, streaming services you pay for and even rent.
Avoid applying for new cards (at least for a while)

Since new cards result in a hard inquiry on your credit report, you should strive to avoid opening new lines of credit while you’re working to improve your score.
Keep old credit accounts open

The average length of your credit history makes up another 15% of your FICO Score, and you can improve your record in this category by keeping your oldest accounts open — even if you’re not using them.

How to apply for a credit card for excellent credit

1. Check your credit score

If your goal is getting the best rewards credit card for excellent credit, you should see how your credit looks before you apply. If you check your credit score and find it needs work, you can take our recommended steps to increase your score before you move to the next step.

2. Compare cards and options

Do some research to see which of the best credit cards for excellent credit interest you most. If you travel all the time, you should look at and compare the best travel credit cards for great credit.

3. See if you’re prequalified or preapproved

Some card issuers let you see if you’re prequalified or preapproved for a card before you move forward with an application. This allows you to gauge your approval odds without getting a hard inquiry on your credit reports.

Where to check if you’re prequalified or preapproved:

4. Pick a card and apply online

Once you find a rewards credit card you like, take steps to begin your application online. You can apply by sharing information like your full name, address, employment information, income and Social Security number. You may even find out if you’re approved the same day you’ve applied.

What are the hardest credit cards to get?

Some rewards credit cards are more difficult to qualify for than others since they’re geared to people with high incomes and the best credit scores. Here are a few top credit cards you may struggle to qualify for — even if you have excellent credit.

Centurion® Card from American Express
Also known as the “Black Card”, the Centurion® Card from American Express doesn’t come with specific eligibility requirements — but it’s certainly geared toward big spenders. The card is said to come with an initiation fee of $10,000 and an annual fee of $5,000.

J.P. Morgan Reserve Card
This card is offered on an invite-only basis, and that invitation only comes for cardholders who have a minimum of $10 million in assets managed by J.P. Morgan’s private bank.

Visa Infinite credit cards (various banks)
Visa Infinite cards are much easier to get than the card types we outlined above, especially when you consider common Visa Infinite options like the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. While specific eligibility requirements are not publicly available, you’ll usually need excellent credit and a high income to qualify.

Frequently asked questions

850 is the highest number you can score for both the FICO and VantageScore models. However, a perfect score is rare and difficult to achieve. You’re doing well if your score falls in the “Exceptional” range for FICO (a score of 800 or higher) or the “Excellent” range for VantageScore (a score of 781 or higher).

An 800 credit score is considered exceptional by any measure, so you should be able to have your pick of the best rewards credit cards for excellent credit. That said, you’ll need to be able to meet other requirements for eligibility, including income requirements.

The right number of credit cards is different for everyone, and even for people with excellent credit. Ideally, you’ll have a combination of cards that give you the perks and rewards you want with minimal annual fees and costs required.

A FICO Score of 800 is considered “exceptional,” while a VantageScore of 780 is considered “excellent.” If your credit score falls above either range, you have a good shot at the best rewards credit cards from all major card issuers.

Methodology: How we chose the best credit cards for excellent credit

To select the best credit cards for excellent credit, our experts compared credit cards that offer rewards programs on LendingTree.com and on major issuer sites. This included cash back credit cards, 0% intro APR cards, travel credit cards and more.

We then chose our top picks based on a variety of factors, such as the type of rewards offered, the value of the card’s sign-up bonus, the rewards redemption options, the card’s annual fee and the interest rates.

Other factors that came into play when making our selection include the benefits offered by the card, such as purchase and extended warranty protections.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

The information related to Centurion® Card from American Express and J.P. Morgan Reserve Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

The information related to Capital One Spark Cash Plus has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

The information related to the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, Centurion® Card from American Express and J.P. Morgan Reserve Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.

Glen Luke Flanagan

Expertise: Personal finance, credit scoring, credit cards
Education: Radford University, East Carolina University

Glen Luke Flanagan is a former senior credit card writer for LendingTree. He joined the team in June 2019, and covered topics that included new credit cards, how your credit score works and what you need to know about credit card interest.

Before joining LendingTree, Glen worked in journalism and government communications. As a journalist at newspapers in North Carolina and South Carolina, his reporting won awards from the North Carolina Press Association and the South Carolina Press Association, respectively.

Glen earned his bachelor’s degree in media studies with a concentration in journalism from Radford University, graduating summa cum laude in May 2014. He also earned a master’s degree in English with a concentration in technical and professional communication, as well as a graduate certificate in marketing, from East Carolina University in May 2022.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Mastercard for excellent credit

Citi Double Cash® Card

Business credit card for excellent credit

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Hotel credit card for excellent credit

Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express*

Airline credit card for excellent credit

United Quest℠ Card

Side-by-side comparison of the best cards for excellent credit

What is an excellent credit score?

How to get an excellent credit score

How to apply for a credit card for excellent credit

1. Check your credit score

2. Compare cards and options

3. See if you’re prequalified or preapproved

4. Pick a card and apply online

What are the hardest credit cards to get?

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Methodology: How we chose the best credit cards for excellent credit

Glen Luke Flanagan

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

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Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

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Citi Double Cash^® Card