By Ben Luthi
Reviewed by Michelle Tipsword4 Types of Cards Everyone Should Have in Their Wallet
By Ben LuthiReviewed by Michelle Tipsword
Quick Answer
- Four valuable types of credit cards to have include no-annual-fee cards, hotel or airline cards, cash back cards and transferable rewards cards.
- Having one of each of these types of cards can offer you rewards and perks, while responsible use can help you build credit.
The average U.S. consumer holds 3.7 credit cards, according to Experian data, and it's easy to see why: Credit cards can provide a number of perks when used responsibly. But there are many different types of cards to consider. While some people may be focused on building credit or saving money on interest, you may be looking to maximize your rewards and benefits.
As you shop around for the right card for you, here are four types of credit cards that should be on your radar.
No-Annual-Fee Cards
There are many different credit cards that don't carry an annual fee, and you should probably be carrying at least one of them. The great benefit to these cards is you can hold on to them for years without worrying about getting enough value to make up for a yearly charge.
A credit card that has no annual fee can be key to building and maintaining a good credit history: The length of your credit history, including the age of your oldest account, is one of the five factors that help determine your FICO® ScoreΘ. In addition, keeping a no-annual-fee card will give you more available credit, which can also help credit scores if you manage the card wisely and keep balances low.
Within the category of cards with no annual fee, you can choose a card based on your preferences. Maybe you choose a card that offers cash back, points or miles, or you opt for one with a low introductory or ongoing APR. Whatever you decide, the idea is to get a good card you can hold on to for the long haul.
Hotel or Airline Card
If you're a travel buff, getting a co-branded credit card with your favorite airline or hotel brand can go a long way. You'll earn points or miles with every purchase, which can help pay for a weekend getaway trip or long-awaited family vacation. These cards don't always offer the best rewards rates, but they typically come with big sign-up bonus offers and valuable perks—and, your points and miles typically will not expire as long as you hold the card.
For example, a lot of airline cards offer free checked baggage and priority boarding, as well as statement credits for in-flight purchases and airport lounge access. Hotel cards usually come with complimentary elite status and a free night's stay every year.
Even if you travel just a couple of times per year, travel credit cards including airline and hotel cards can often return as much or more value than they cost in the form of an annual fee.
Best travel cards of 2026
Compare cards from our partners that earn valuable points or miles and unlock travel perks on flights and hotel stays.
Offers from our partners
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
Intro APR:0% for 15 months on Balance Transfers
Ongoing APR:19.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
Rewards:
2x (Miles per dollar)
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights
Annual Fee:$0
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Intro bonus:
60,000 Points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Ongoing APR:19.49% - 27.49% (Variable)
Rewards:
1x - 10x (Points per dollar)
Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Annual Fee:$95
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:19.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
Rewards:
2x (Miles per dollar)
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
Annual Fee:$99, waived for first 12 months
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Intro bonus:
As High As 90K Miles + $300 Statement Credit
You may be eligible for as high as 90,000 Bonus Miles and a $300 Statement Credit after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply to find out your offer. Terms Apply. Offer ends 11/04/2026.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:
1x - 3x (Miles per dollar)
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$350
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
Intro bonus:
125,000 Bonus Points + a $150 Statement Credit
Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points plus a $150 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 09/30/2026.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:
2x - 6x (Points per dollar)
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points). Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$250
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Intro bonus:
200,000 Points
Best Points Offer Yet! Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 01/13/2027.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:
3x - 14x (Points per dollar)
Earn 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants. Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$550
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Intro bonus:
25,000 Points
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
Intro APR:0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Ongoing APR:17.49% - 27.49% Variable
Rewards:
1.5x - 3x (Points per dollar)
3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through BofA Travel and 1.5 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases
Annual Fee:$0
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
Intro bonus:
60,000 Points
Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Ongoing APR:19.49% - 27.49% Variable
Rewards:
1.5x - 2x (Points per dollar)
2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases, 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Annual Fee:$95
See all our best travel credit cards for 2026.
Cash Back Card
Travel rewards can be valuable, but there may be times when you'll want to simplify the rewards you earn with a strong cash back credit card. There are several cash back credit cards that offer standout rewards rates on everyday spending categories.
You can also decide which type of cash back card is right for you: One that earns extra rewards in rotating bonus categories or simpler versions that offer flat-rate rewards on purchases. Both are solid options—the choice comes down to how much time you want to devote to tracking your spending and extra rewards-earning categories.
You also may be eligible for a sign-up bonus with a cash back card, such as a cash payout for spending a certain amount in a number of months. What's more, many cash back cards don't charge an annual fee, so you can kill two birds with one stone.
Transferable Rewards Card
If you're looking for ways to maximize your rewards, credit cards that allow you to transfer your points to other loyalty programs offer a great way to do it.
All of these rewards programs provide several redemption options, but your points or miles have a set value, such as 1 cent per point. If you want to maximize the value of your points or miles, you can transfer them to a partner airline or hotel rewards program, which has a dynamic pricing structure. With the right redemption, you can get several cents per point or mile in value.
This extra value and versatility make transferable rewards cards an excellent choice, especially for travel enthusiasts.
Check Your Credit Before You Apply
Most of the best credit cards on the market require good or excellent credit, which starts at a credit score of 670, according to FICO®. Check your FICO® Score before you apply for a card to make sure you know where you stand.
If your score doesn't measure up, take some time to improve it before you apply. Also, if you plan on getting more than one credit card, space out your applications by six months or more. Each new credit inquiry can knock a few points off your credit score, but multiple credit card applications in a short period of time can have a negative compounding effect.
Once your credit is where you want it, take time to research your options and pick the cards that best fit your spending habits, lifestyle and credit score. There's no maximum number of credit cards you can hold, so rounding out the types of cards in your wallet can help provide you more options and perks—and could even help your credit score. Experian's card comparison platform can help you sift through card offers and find out which ones you may be more likely to qualify for.
Don’t apply blindly
Apply for credit cards confidently with personalized offers based on your credit profile. Get started with your FICO® Score for free.
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About the author
Ben Luthi
Ben Luthi has worked in financial planning, banking and auto finance, and writes about all aspects of money. His work has appeared in Time, Success, USA Today, Credit Karma, NerdWallet, Wirecutter and more.
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