Credit Card Comparison

With so many credit card companies competing for your business, smart consumers can save money on interest and fees by shopping around and finding the credit card that works best for them.

Compare credit card features to see what type of card you need

The best way to get started in comparing credit cards is to decide how you’ll be using the card and which features you’ll benefit from most.

If you think you’ll be carrying a balance on your card and making monthly payments, choose a card with a lower interest rate.

If you’ll be getting cash advances from your credit card, check what interest rates or fees are involved in a cash transaction.
If you use the card for convenience and will be paying your balance in full each month, look for a card that offers a longer grace period and no annual fees.

Different credit card features and costs available

Credit card companies offer a wide variety of features, so when you’re shopping for a credit card it’s important to compare them:

Annual percentage rates (APR) — the annual interest rate applied to your account balance
Periodic rates — the rate applied to each daily or monthly billing period
Rewards — incentives such as cash back bonuses, no annual fees, zero percent APR for limited periods, low APR for transferred balances, travel rewards, etc.
Cash advance terms — interest rates and special fees that apply to cash transactions
Grace periods — the period you have to pay your bill without incurring finance charges
Annual fees — many companies charge $25 to $100 annually to their cardholders
Other fees — fees for late payments or exceeding your credit limit
Finance charge computations — average daily balance, adjusted balance, etc.

Helpful credit card comparison articles

The credit card comparison articles on this website will help you learn:

How to find the right credit card for you
What the terms APR, credit limit, interest rate, prime rate, finance charges, etc. mean
How to compare credit card offers
How to get your first credit card
What your credit and consumer rights are

Your time will be well spent in researching and comparing different credit card offers. Then you can begin to reap the financial benefits it will bring.

Credit Card Interest Rates

All of us have received credit card offers through the mail or over the Internet. But before accepting any offer, it’s important to consider which credit cards give you the best, or lowest, interest rate. You can use the information below to determine which card is best for you.

Credit Cards for College Students

For college students, having a credit card can be extremely helpful when paying for tuition, textbooks and supplies, and even living expenses. And using the card carefully and making payments on time is an excellent way to begin building a credit history and earning a high credit score. Leaving school with a good credit rating will make it much easier to rent an apartment, buy a car, or even start a small business.

Getting Your First Credit Card

If you are currently considering getting a credit card for the first time, you may have noticed that in most cases you need credit in order to get credit. This presents a very real problem for the first-time credit card applicant. Having no credit history means that you have not yet earned a credit score, the criteria used by most credit card companies to offer you a card.

How to Apply for a Credit Card

You don’t have to own a credit card to live, but it sure makes life easier. Credit cards afford you the privileges of shopping online, reserving a hotel room, renting a car, or weathering a financial emergency. The good news is that applying for a credit card is a very simple process; probably much easier than you think. Here’s how to do it.

When it Comes to Credit, Know Your Rights

Your credit score has more impact on your life than you may realize. Your credit report is reviewed every time you apply for a credit card, loan, insurance, when you apply for a job, or sign a lease. Federal laws exist to protect your right to obtain, use, and maintain credit and knowing your rights is key to maintaining your financial health.

What Does Minimum Monthly Payment Mean on a Credit Card

If you want to be responsible in how you make monthly payments on your credit cards in order to build a strong credit rating and credit score, understanding the effects of paying only the minimum payment due on your cards each month is very important.

What are Credit Card Fees?

The privilege of making purchases by using credit and paying over time is one of the great conveniences credit cards offer consumers. However, credit card fees can add up quickly to many more dollars than you expected to pay.

Prime Rate and What it Means to Credit Cardholders

Understanding how the annual percentage rate (APR) is calculated on your credit cards is vital to managing your credit and comparing credit card offers.

Finding the Right Credit Card

Your mailbox is crammed full of credit card offers from a dozen companies. Different APRs, rewards programs, and credit card fees have your head swimming. But finding the right credit card is as simple as comparing a few characteristics of each offer you receive.

Do You Want to Transfer Credit Card Balances?

If you’re carrying a large balance on a credit card with a high interest rate, you may be able to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest by making a balance transfer to a different card with lower interest.

Do You Need a Credit Card for Cash Advances?

A popular incentive offered by credit card companies is the ability to withdraw cash from your credit cards. There are two kinds of cash advances from credit card companies: one involves withdrawing cash from an ATM machine; the other requires cashing a special check you receive from your credit card company.

Credit Cards for Seniors

If you are nearing your retirement years, part of your financial planning should be to assess what credit cards will work the best for you and will allow you to pay off any balances quickly.

Comparing Credit Card Offers

When you decide to shop for a new credit card, it’s important to compare what each card offers in terms of annual interest rates, payment schedules, reward programs, and fees.

What is Credit Card Compound Interest?

When it comes to using credit wisely, one of the best things you can do as a credit cardholder is to avoid accruing compound interest on large credit card balances.

Credit Card Incentive Offers

There’s a lot of competition between credit card companies for your business today. Credit card incentive offers are ways that credit companies make their cards more valuable to consumers.

What is Credit Card APR?

One of the key components of any credit card offer is its annual percentage rate (APR). The APR is the amount of interest you’ll pay on your carried balance in a given year. If this sounds complicated to you, don’t worry. It’s really very simple. To understand APRs, all you have to do is familiarize yourself with some simple terminology used by credit card companies and do some basic math.

What is a Credit Card Limit?

Qualifying for a credit card with a high spending limit usually requires an excellent credit history and a high credit score. This is because your card limit is more than just the stopping point for spending; it’s also a reflection of how your credit card company views your credit worthiness.

Choosing Credit Card Rewards

There are many things to consider when you shop for a new credit card, not the least of which is the type of rewards a particular credit card offers. From frequent flyer miles to travel discounts and retailer gift cards to cash back to your account, there’s a wide selection of credit card reward programs

How are Credit Card Finance Charges Calculated?

There are a number of ways in which credit card finance charges are calculated including adjusted balance, average daily balance, two-cycle average daily balance, previous balance, and ending balance.