Best Credit Cards 2013: Cashback, Gas, Travel, Business, Prepaid, and More

Credit cards are my friends. I use credit cards exclusively for almost all purchases, from groceries, gas, to airline tickets, whenever and wherever possible. The reasons I love credit cards can be summarized as 1) Using credit cards help me establish credit history; 2) I earn rewards by paying with credit cards; 3) Money won’t leave my bank account right away; 4) It makes managing and budgeting easier. Over the years, I have applied for, used, and abandoned many credit cards as my needs, and the credit card rewards programs, changed. Currently, I own a few cards that I think can bring me the best rewards from my everyday purchases:

Following are credit cards that currently offer the best rewards programs, and incentives. If you are looking for a credit card that allows to earn rewards, whether they are points, miles or cash rebates, faster, you will find one from the following that meets you needs.

Current Credit Card Promotions

  • Discover More Card balance transfer for 18 months: 0% APR balance transfer for 18 months;
  • Citi ThankYou® Preferred Rewards Card  - $150 in gift cards: Receive 15,000 ThankYou Points after spending $1,000 in the first three months, redeemable for a $150 gift card;
  • American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card 25,000 bonus points: Earn 25,000 Membership Rewards bonus points when you spend $2,000 in the first three months;
  • American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Card 25,000 bonus points: Earn 10,000 with your first purchase and another 15,000 when you spend $5,000 within 6 months

Best Cashback Credit Cards

American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card Blue Cash® from American Express

  • Earn a $100 cash back bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months of Cardmembership
  • No annual fee, flexibility to pay over time
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, flexibility to pay over time
  •  Get 3% cash back at supermarkets, 2% cash back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • NO spend minimum, NO enrollment, and NO rotating rewards categories
  • Get a $25 Referral Bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Card

Best Credit Cards for Balance Transfer

Discover More Card Discover More Card

  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% – 20.99%*
  • 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% – 20.99%*
  • Earn 5% Cashback Bonus on up to $1,500 in purchases at Department Stores and on ALL online shopping through December, as well as in categories that change throughout the year like gas, restaurants, and department stores up to the quarterly maximum. It’s free and easy to sign up.*
  • Dscover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty–16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
  • 24/7 access to a U.S.-based Account Manager within 60 seconds
  • $0 Fraud Liability, you’re never responsible for unauthorized charges on your Discover card account, plus automatic mobile and email fraud alert options
  • Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
Citi  Platinum Select MasterCard

Citi Platinum Select MasterCard

  • 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 18 months. After that, the APR will be 11.99%-21.99% based upon your creditworthiness.
  • Extra Cash from Citi: enjoy discounts on gift cards, travel, merchandise and more
  • Citi Identity Theft Solutions
  • Secure, free online account management
  • No annual fee

Best Gasoline Credit Cards

Discover Open Road Card Discover® Open Road(SM) Card

  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 14 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% – 20.99%*
  • 2% automatically at gas stations and restaurants all year long*
  • Plus, up to 20% Cashback Bonus at popular online retailers when you shop through Discover.com
  • Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty–16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
  • 24/7 access to a U.S.-based Account Manager within 60 seconds
  • Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee

PenFed Visa Platinum Cashback Rewards Card VISA Platinum Gas / Cash Rewards Card

  • Earn 5.00% cash back from gas purchases paid at the pump
  • Earn 2.00% cash back on supermarket purchases good through February 28, 2011
  • Earn 1.00% cash back from all purchases you make with the card during each billing cycle
  • Up to $50,000 limit
  • No Annual Fee
  • Cash Rewards credited each month
  • No special restrictions to earn your cash rewards

Best Travel Credit Cards

Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express

  • Starpoints® Bonus: 10K with your first purchase and another 15K when you spend $5k within 6 months – enough for up to 6 free nights at a Category 1 or 2 hotel
  • Free nights, free flights: Redeem Starpoints with over 350 airlines through SPG Flights and more than 1,000 hotels and resorts worldwide. No blackout dates
  • 2011 SmarterTravel® Award for “Best Travel Rewards Card”
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65

Chase Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card Chase Marriott Rewards Credit Card

  • Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after your first use, redeemable for up to 4 free nights; plus receive 2 free night stay e-certificates upon account approval, that’s enough up to 6 free nights at a category 1 hotel
  • No Annual fee for your first year that’s a $45 value
  • Earn 3 points for every $1 spent at Marriott locations
  • Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on other purchases
  • Cardmembers achieve Silver elite status with 10 nights credit toward Elite status
  • Redeem Marriott Rewards points at Marriott properties including Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Fairfield Inn & Suites

Best Business Credit Cards

SimplyCash Business Credit Card from American Express OPEN SimplyCash Business Credit Card from American Express OPEN

  • Get 5% cash back on wireless services and office supply purchases
  • Get 3% cash back on automobile gasoline
  • Get 1% cash back on other purchases
  • No limit to the amount of cash back you can earn
  • Cash back on purchases is automatically credited to your statement each month
  • Save up to 10% automatically on business expenses from FedEx, Hertz and more with OPEN Savings
  • No annual membership fee

Chase Ink Cash Business Card Chase Ink Cash Business Card

  • Up to $250 cash back bonus – $100 cash back bonus after your first purchase, plus an additional $150 after you spend $5,000 within 3 months!
  • 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually at office supply stores, and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services
  • 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually at gas stations and restaurants
  • 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
  • Cash back rewards do not expire
  • 0% Introductory APR for 6 months
  • No Annual Fee

Best Credit Cards for Youth

Zync from American Express Zync(SM) from American Express

  • Enjoy a low annual fee of just $25 for Basic Card
  • Pay no interest – that’s because you pay in full each month
  • Choose the Lifestyle Packs you want to customize your Card with the benefits you use most
  • Protect eligible purchases with Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty
  • Earn Membership Rewards points with every eligible purchase – redeem points for travel, shopping, and great entertainment rewards
  • Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after first purchase

Best Credit Cards for College Students

Citi Forward® Card for College Students Citi Foward(SM) Card for College Students

  • No Cosigner required
  • APR reduction on purchases when using credit wisely
  • 5 ThankYou® Points for every $1 you spend at restaurants and on entertainment; 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • 100 ThankYou Points each billing period that you pay on time and stay under your credit line

Citi mtvU Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students Citi® mtvU™ Platinum Select® Visa® Card for College Students

  • 0% APR on Purchases for 7 Months, If You Qualify, Based on Your Application and Credit History, after that, the APR will be 13.99% – 21.99%
  • Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for Every Dollar You Spend at Restaurants, Bookstores, Record Stores, Movie Theaters, and Video Rental Stores
  • Earn 1 ThankYou Point For Every Dollar You Spend on All Other Purchases
  • Earn 25 ThankYou Points Every Month When You Pay on Time and Don’t Go Over Your Credit Limit
  • Earn Up to 2000 ThankYou Points Twice a Year for Maintaining a Good GPA
  • Redeem Points for Gift Cards, Travel, Electronics, Music, and More
  • No Annual Fee

Best Secured Credit Cards

Platinum Zero Secured Visa Credit Card from Applied Bank Platinum Zero™: Secured Visa® Credit Card

  • 0% FIXED APR on Purchases – No Intro Rates!
  • 0% Rate Won’t Change – Even If You’re Late!
  • ZERO Application Fees
  • ZERO Worries – FREE Personal ID Theft Protection
  • ZERO Delays – Timely CREDIT Bureau Reporting

New Millennium Bank Secured Platinus Card New Millennium Bank Platinum Visa®/MasterCard®

  • Get Approved for Up To $10,000 in Secured Credit with No Credit Check
  • Free Companion Airfare
  • Membership in TheWorldsBestTravelClub.Com, which Offers Cardholders a $69 Cash Rebate on Their First Condo Booking
  • Guaranteed Issue
  • Credit Amount Equals the Deposit
  • Complimentary Online Services for Account Management and Payments
  • Be Approved Regardless of Income or Credit History
  • Reports to the 3 Major Credit Bureaus

Best Pre-Paid Debit Cards

Green Dot Prepaid MasterCard Green Dot? Prepaid MasterCard?

  • FREE $0 Activation Online with NO Credit Check!
  • FREE Cash Withdrawals at over 15,000 Participating ATMs
  • FREE Online Bill Pay & Direct Deposit
  • NO Monthly Fee for Any Month with at Least 30 Purchases
  • NO Transaction Fees on US Purchases
  • NO Overdraft or Penalty Fees
  • NO Minimum Balance Required
  • GET $10 with Direct Deposit

Mango Prepaid Debit Card from Horizon Bank Mango MasterCard Prepaid

  • FREE Prepaid MasterCard
  • $0 Activation Fee
  • FREE Direct Deposit
  • FREE Unlimited Purchase / Signature Transactions
  • FREE Account Management Online or With Your Mobile Phone
  • FREE to Check Your Balance With Your Mobile Phone
  • No Monthly Fee When You Load $500/Month
  • Send Money With Your Mobile Phone
  • Load Cash at Tens of Thousands of Retailers Nationwide
  • No Credit Check, No Bank Account Needed, No Overdraft Fees

Best Low Interest Rate Cards

IberiaBank Visa Classic Card

  • No Annual Membership Fee
  • Low variable rate of 7.25%, 10.25%, or 13.25% (Prime + 4.00%, Prime + 7.00%, or Prime + 10.00%) as of 4/1/10 based on the creditworthiness. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. (If there is an interest charge, the charge will be no less than $1.00).
  • Low Introductory APR on balance transfers of 1.99% for your first 6 billing cycles, this rate will not change during the introductory period. Applies to balance transfers processed within three months of your account open date. After that, your APR will be the same as your assigned purchase rate, based on your creditworthiness. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
  • Online Access to Credit Card Account Information

Simmons First Visa Platinum Rewards Card

  • Low 9.25% variable standard purchase APR and platinum benefits
  • No balance transfer fee for balances transferred in response to this online offer
  • Travel Rewards – cardholders who enroll in the program receive one point per net dollar spent
  • Choose any U.S. based airline or ticket class. No blackout dates or seating restrictions
  • Other travel related options are hotels, cruises, vacation packages, car rental, and restaurants
  • No Annual Fee