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If you have a credit score in the high 600s or low 700s, your credit rating is considered “good” — but not necessarily great. Having good credit typically means you can qualify for a credit card and for various loan products, but you may not receive the very best rates and terms.
If you have credit in this range and you’re looking for a credit card that could help you build more credit until you get your score where it needs to be, we’ve outlined the best options to consider.
Here are the cards you should have in the interim while building your good credit into excellent credit.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Compare the best credit cards for good credit
Many of the best credit cards for good credit offer generous rewards and 0% introductory APR offers with no annual fee.
Best credit card for rotating bonus categories: Chase Freedom Flex℠
Why the Chase Freedom Flex is worth it: The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points in rotating bonus categories, as well as a great welcome bonus, for no annual fee.
Welcome bonus: Earn Chase Freedom Flex℠.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is one of the highest-earning no-annual-fee cards on the market.
Here’s what you’ll get:
5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel Portal5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter (then 1%) in rotating bonus categories when you activate3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases1% cash back on everything else
Rotating bonus categories often include common purchases like supermarkets, gas stations, and even Amazon purchases. You should have no trouble maximizing these categories each quarter to earn $300 back each year.
While the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is marketed as a cash-back card, it technically earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points. For example, 5% cash back translates to 5 points per dollar. You can cash out these points at a rate of 1 cent each, or you can save them until you’ve got the credit you need to open one of the following cards:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardChase Sapphire Reserve®Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Review: Chase Freedom Flex review
If you hold any of these cards, you can transfer the rewards you earn on the Chase Freedom Flex℠ to valuable airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United Airlines, Southwest, and more.
Collecting points with this card is a great way to build your stash of travel rewards even before you have a proper travel credit card.
Best flat-rate cash back credit card: Citi® Double Cash Card
Why the Citi Double Cash is worth it: The Citi® Double Cash Card earns flat-rate rewards on all purchases and has a great limited-time welcome bonus, with a Citi® Double Cash Card annual fee. Moreover, the card earns valuable Citi ThankYou points.
Welcome bonus: Earn Citi® Double Cash Card.
The Citi® Double Cash Card is one of the simplest cards to use thanks to its consistent return rate: 1 point per dollar (1% back) after you make a purchase, and another 1 point per dollar (1% back) after you pay off your purchase. In other words, you’ll effectively earn 2x points (2% back) on everything with this card, with no rotating categories or merchant bonuses to worry about.
You can redeem Citi ThankYou points from the Citi® Double Cash Card for cash back, gift cards, and travel booked through Citi at a rate of 1 cent per point. You can also transfer rewards to a handful of partners, but if you also have the Citi Premier® Card or Citi Prestige® Card (not available to new applicants), you can access all of Citi’s airline and hotel partners and potentially get more value from your Citi points.
Review: Citi Double Cash review
Best small-business credit card: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Why the Ink Business Cash is worth it: The no-annual-fee Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has a huge welcome bonus, high rewards-earning rates, and excellent perks.
Welcome bonus: Earn Ink Business Cash® Credit Card.
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers one of the biggest bonuses of any no-annual-fee credit card. If you can manage that spending requirement, this card is a winner. Just note that you must have a small business to be eligible. Whether you run a coffee shop, drive for DoorDash or Uber, babysit, or do freelance work, you may qualify for this card.
Here’s what this Ink Business Cash® Credit Card-annual-fee card earns for spending:
5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services*2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants*1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
*On up to $25,000 in combined purchases each year, then 1% cash back.
This card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, not cash. But similar to the Chase Freedom Flex℠, you’ll need one of the following cards to unlock the full potential of your rewards:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardChase Sapphire Reserve®Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
One excellent and very useful perk that’s rare to see among no-annual-fee cards is primary car rental insurance (when renting for business purposes). When you waive the in-house rental agency’s CDW, you’ll be covered for damage or theft to the car, and you don’t even have to tell your personal insurance provider about it.
Review: Chase Ink Business Cash review
Best credit card for grocery stores: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit
Why the SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit is worth it: The SavorOne Rewards for Good Credit from Capital One has high earning rates in popular bonus categories and the potential to convert rewards to valuable Capital One miles, for no annual fee.
Welcome bonus: N/A
The no-annual-fee SavorOne Rewards for Good Credit from Capital One does not currently offer a welcome bonus. However, its strong return rates can make it enticing enough to open anyway:
8% cash back on Vivid Seats purchases through January 31, 20233% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)1% back on all other purchases
You can redeem your cash back as either a check or a statement credit, and there’s no minimum redemption amount. But just like the cards before it, you can turn this cash back into significantly more valuable Capital One miles if you have one of the following cards:
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One Venture Rewards Credit CardCapital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One Spark Miles for BusinessCapital One Spark Miles Select for Business
So while you’re biding your time and fostering your credit score, you can earn points for your travels (if that’s of interest to you).
Review: Capital One SavorOne for Good Credit review
Best credit card for gas stations: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
Why the US Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is worth it: The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has strong reward rates on travel and everyday spending categories and a large welcome bonus.
Welcome bonus: Earn U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card.
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is great for road warriors, as it’s got one of the highest returns at gas stations and EV charging stations of any card available — albeit for an annual fee of U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card. Here’s what you’ll get:
5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center4x points on travel and at gas stations (including EV charging stations)2x points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining, and streaming services1x point on all other eligible purchases
These points are worth 1 cent each, meaning you’ll effectively earn 4% back at gas stations.
Review: US Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature review
Best choose-your-own spending category credit card: Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
Why the Citi Custom Cash is worth it: The no-annual-fee Citi Custom Cash℠ Card earns you 5% cash back on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle. Plus, you can earn a great welcome bonus and long intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Welcome bonus: Earn Citi Custom Cash℠ Card.
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is unique in that it’s one of the few cards that bonuses your spending based on your usage. You’ll receive 5% cash back on up to $500 spent in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (then 1%). And you’ll get 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Eligible spending categories include:
RestaurantsGas stationsGrocery storesSelect travelSelect transitSelect streaming servicesDrugstoresHome improvement storesFitness clubsLive entertainment
Whichever category you spend the most in, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card will automatically give you 5% back (again, up to $500 in spending) each billing cycle. If you were to max out this bonus each billing cycle, you’d receive $300 per year.
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card has a Citi Custom Cash℠ Card (then a Citi Custom Cash℠ Card APR).
This card’s rewards operate the same as the Citi® Double Cash Card. If you hold the Citi Premier® Card or Citi Prestige® Card (not available to new applicants), you can unlock more redemption opportunities by transferring rewards to the full range of Citi airline and hotel partners.
This is another strong earner for a Citi Custom Cash℠ Card annual fee card.
Review: Citi Custom Cash card review
Credit cards for good credit frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is a good credit score?
FICO defines a good credit score as between 670 and 739. However, you may find different definitions based on the credit issuer with which you’re applying. For example, Capital One defines good credit as the following:
Capital One has its own definition of good credit.
Capital One
What credit card is good for a 600 credit score?
If you’re rebuilding your credit, it’s best not to focus on rewards credit cards until you’ve solved the issues leading to a score that hovers around 600.
Even if you simply don’t have enough credit history to warrant a score approaching 700, consider a secured credit card or a student credit card.
How can you improve your credit score from good to excellent?
There are a number of factors that determine your credit score. Those with excellent credit will consistently have a low credit utilization ratio (a good rule of thumb is to be using 3% of your total available credit), a diverse and lengthy credit history, and never make a late payment.
If any of these things don’t sound like you, take the time to work on them. Pay off your balances so you’re not using a big chunk of your available credit, abstain from opening and closing credit lines frequently, and always pay on time, even if it’s the minimum payment.
How do you check your credit score?
Checking your credit score is always a good idea before opening a credit card. That way you’ll have a better understanding of your chances for approval. You can get a general idea as to what your score is by utilizing a free credit report service like Credit Karma and Credit Sesame — though these scores are often higher than your actual FICO score.