At Experian, one of our priorities is consumer credit and finance education. This post may contain links and references to one or more of our partners, but we provide an objective view to help you make the best decisions. For more information, see our Editorial Policy.
Discover takes the top spot for credit card mobile app satisfaction, according to the 2022 U.S. Credit Card Mobile App Satisfaction Study by J.D. Power. Here's how the top five credit card mobile apps ranked and why they're the best.
1. Discover
The Discover mobile app was the highest-rated app in J.D. Power's study, earning a rating of 876 points out of 1,000.
When you log in, you'll see your balance for each account. You can swipe right on an account, and you'll see your rewards balance and due date. Then, swipe left and opt to view your account activity or make a payment. The card issuer's mobile app makes it easy to switch between your accounts on the main page and also allows you to quickly check your FICO® Score☉ from the dashboard.
In addition to showing you your recent transactions, Discover also provides a spend analyzer, which breaks down your transactions into categories and also shows you monthly trends so you can better understand where your money is going.
You can also view and redeem your cash back or miles (depending on which card you have), view all of your card benefits, refer a friend, freeze your account, manage authorized users and more.
2. Capital One
Capital One's mobile app ranked second in the J.D. Power study with a rating that's slightly below Discover at 875 points.
Once you log in to the app, you'll be able to view all of your accounts and their balances. If you have a payment due, you'll see the minimum amount due and the due date on the main dashboard.
Tap a card, and you'll be able to see your current balance, available credit and rewards. You can also view your most recent transactions, make a payment, lock your card or request a new one, refer a friend, view card benefits, add offers to your card and use other account management features. You can also check your credit score, but keep in mind that Capital One offers credit scores from VantageScore®, not FICO.
One thing that sets the bank apart from the others is that you can also create virtual card numbers that are tied to your account but don't reveal your primary account number. You can use these numbers to shop online, then cancel them when you're done to help protect yourself from fraud.
3. Bank of America
Coming in third, Bank of America's mobile app garnered a rating of 868 points in the study.
On the main dashboard, you'll be able to see all of your accounts and their balances. Tap one, and you'll see your current balance, total available credit, your next statement closing date and due date, and the minimum amount due.
You can also check your most recent transactions, check old statements, view your card benefits, view and redeem your rewards balance, view your FICO® Score, add BankAmeriDeals to your card, request a new card and even set up a budget.
The card issuer offers a wide range of alerts that you can set to help you not only track your expenses but also to help prevent fraud. That way, you don't necessarily have to check your app often—just set up as many alerts as you want, and you'll be notified about the updates that are most important to you.
4. American Express
Despite being ranked No. 1 in three of the previous four years, the American Express mobile app fell to fourth in the 2022 study with 865 points.
On the main dashboard, you'll be able to see each card and its current balance. Tap a card, and you'll see the current balance, most recent statement balance and your available credit. Down further, you can check your recent account activity, look up statements, make a payment and set up long-term payment plans.
American Express doesn't readily provide your rewards balance on the same page, but you can select the Membership icon at the bottom of the screen to see your rewards balance and redeem them and read up on your benefits. Tap on the Offers icon to view and add Amex Offers to your account.
Finally, the Account icon lets you view your FICO® Score, manage your account users, freeze and unfreeze your card or request a new one, update your profile and more.
5. Chase
Rounding out our top five, Chase received a rating of 864 points, just above the industry average of 862.
When you first log in to the Chase mobile app, tap the Chase Snapshot to get a quick update on your credit score, how much you earned across your different cards in rewards and your top spending category in the previous month, spending by category, credit usage and more.
Go back to the dashboard, and you'll see all of your credit cards and their balances, making it easy to switch back and forth between them. Tap on a card, and you'll see the current balance, statement balance and the next due date and minimum amount due.
You'll also be able to check your recent transactions, view your rewards balance and redeem rewards, check your credit score, set up a long-term payment plan, refer a friend, add Chase Offers to your card, lock and unlock your account or request a new one, and much more.
Note that if you have a credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points, you can redeem them directly in the app. If you've booked trips through the Ultimate Rewards platform, you'll also be able to view and manage your trips. If you have a co-branded card, though, Chase will direct you to the partner airline or hotel chain's mobile app for redemption.
Features to Look for in a Credit Card Mobile App
As you compare credit cards, it's important to look beyond the rewards and benefits, especially if you like to manage your finances on the go. When comparing mobile apps for each card you're considering, here are some helpful features to keep an eye out for:
- Simple dashboard: How easy is it to view your account balances and switch between accounts from the front page? Can you also view your credit score and access other features from the dashboard?
- Security features: Most major credit card mobile apps allow you to set up Face ID and fingerprint scans to get into your account. Beyond that, do they make it easy to lock and unlock your card or ask for a replacement? What other security features do they offer to keep your information safe?
- Easy rewards redemption: If you have a rewards credit card, being able to view and redeem your points, miles or cash back from your mobile app can be incredibly convenient. Read reviews about the ease of navigation for this process to determine if it's right for you.
- Payment options: Being able to pay your credit card bill from your mobile app is a standard feature. But some apps also allow you to set up automatic payments, add a new pay-from account and even change your due date.
- Other features: Does the credit card issuer make it easy to give you a snapshot of all of your recent activity across all of your cards, provide you with easy access to your credit score, give you analysis or insights into your spending habits or offer other features that make your account management easier?
Check Your Credit Before Applying for a New Card
If you're considering switching to a new credit card, make sure you check your credit score before you apply. Most of the best cards require good or excellent credit, which means a score in the upper 600s or higher.
If your credit score isn't where it needs to be, consider taking time to improve your credit before you start applying for new cards. You can also use Experian CreditMatch™ to get matched with offers based on your credit profile.
Note: Features and capabilities may differ slightly from what is described here depending on your mobile operating system.