Standard credit cards
Standard credit cards are your basic credit card option without any special features. They don't earn rewards or have introductory offers. You can make purchases on credit and pay them off later, but that's it. If you're not sure how it works, our beginner's guide to credit cards can help.
Standard credit cards used to be one of the most common credit card types, but that's no longer the case. Most credit cards offer at least some benefits that qualify them for another category.
No annual fee credit cards
No annual fee credit cards are cards you can carry without paying anything. They could also be considered free credit cards. There are often other potential fees you could be charged, such as late fees, but these are avoidable.
As you'd expect, no annual fee cards typically don't have as many perks as cards with annual fees. That doesn't mean they're light on benefits, though. You can find no annual fee cards that earn rewards and include all kinds of valuable features.
This is one of those credit card types that appeals to a variety of consumers since many people don't want to pay anything extra for a credit card.
Rewards credit cards
Rewards credit cards earn rewards on purchases. The rewards you get depend on the rewards credit card you have.
Some rewards cards offer cash back. Others offer points or miles you can redeem. With credit card miles and points, the redemption options depend on your card's rewards program. The terms "points" and "miles" are just a stylistic choice. They don't determine how you can use the rewards. Some card issuers use the term "points," and others prefer "miles."
Every rewards credit card has a rewards rate, which is the amount of rewards it earns per purchase. Some rewards cards earn one flat rate on your purchases. For example, a flat-rate rewards card could earn 2% cash back or 2 points per $1 on purchases. There are also cards with higher rates in bonus categories, such as 3% back on groceries and 1% back on everything else.
Rewards credit cards are among the most popular credit card types, and there are several types of them. These include:
Airline or frequent flyer cards
Airline credit cards earn rewards that you can redeem for air travel. These are also known as frequent flyer cards. Travel cards with no annual fee are also an option. Credit cards for international travel are popular too.
There are two types of airline cards: airline-specific credit cards and general airline credit cards.
Airline-specific credit cards are tied to one airline's frequent flyer program and often have special benefits with that airline. When you use an airline-specific credit card, you earn miles/points in that airline's frequent flyer program. This type of airline card works well if you usually fly with the same airline.
General airline credit cards aren't tied to a specific airline. They offer rewards you can use with multiple airlines. Certain cards let you transfer your rewards to multiple airlines' frequent flyer programs. Others let you use your rewards to cover travel purchases with any airline. And there are general airline cards that give you both those options.
Sign-up bonus credit cards
Sign-up bonus credit cards include an introductory bonus rewards offer. The sign-up bonus is available to new cardholders. There are usually conditions you must complete to receive the bonus.
In most cases, the conditions involve spending a certain amount of money with the card in a set timeframe. One card may offer a $200 sign-up bonus if you spend $500 in the first three months. Another may give you 50,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months.
0% intro APR credit cards
0% intro APR credit cards offer new cardholders an interest rate of 0% for an introductory period. This special offer can apply to purchases you make, balances you transfer from other credit cards, or both.
Cards with a 0% intro APR on purchases are great if you need to pay for something expensive upfront and pay it off over time. Cards with a 0% intro APR on balance transfers, also known as balance transfer credit cards, are made for refinancing credit card debt. Balance transfer credit cards for bad credit are also available.
Note that after the introductory period ends, your card's APR will go up to its normal rate. It's best to pay off the balance in full before this happens so you won't be charged any credit card interest.
Based on credit history
There are also credit card types based on the credit history of the target cardholder. These include:
Each of these credit card types covers who should apply. Credit cards for bad credit are aimed at consumers with low credit scores. The same applies to the other credit card types listed.
Secured credit cards
Secured credit cards require a security deposit to open. The security deposit is often equal to the cardholder's initial credit line and provides extra security for the card issuer. If the cardholder doesn't pay their bill, the card issuer can keep the deposit.
These are almost always credit cards for people with bad credit. If you have a better credit score, you can likely qualify for credit card types that don't require a deposit. But if you're building or rebuilding credit, a secured card can be helpful. It's much easier to get approved for a secured credit card since you're paying a deposit upfront.
Credit cards by issuer
Credit card types can be based on the card issuer. Some of the most popular credit card types by issuer are:
Store credit cards
Store credit cards are issued by a specific retailer. In the past, this type of credit card has earned rewards you can redeem for gift cards with that retailer, which is how cards like the Best Buy Credit Card work. But in recent years, more store cards have offered cash back, and the Prime Visa is a notable example. There are also store cards, including the Target Circle™️ Card, that offer a discount on purchases made at the store.
Well-known store credit cards include the following:
Business credit cards
Business credit cards are designed for business owners, with features to reflect that. These cards may have more detailed expense tracking than a typical credit card or offer free employee credit cards with customizable spending limits. There are also business cards that earn bonus rewards in areas where business owners spend more, such as advertising or shipping.
Even though this type of card is for business owners, card issuers usually aren't too strict about who's eligible for a business credit card. You could qualify if you're a freelancer or if you just have a small side hustle selling products online.
Some consumers who don't have traditional businesses still like to open business credit cards for the benefits they offer.
Specialty credit cards
Some credit card types don't fit into any of the categories above. These specialty credit cards include: