Many people are struggling to get their personal finances in order as the pandemic continues to disrupt both the economy and daily life. And while it may seem counterintuitive to consider credit cards if you are experiencing financial difficulties, the right card can be a valuable tool in your financial arsenal. How? A new credit card, on the other hand, could help by temporarily allowing you to finance the things you need to buy at 0% interest or consolidating debt at a lower interest rate.
Or maybe you just want to make sure you’re earning as many rewards as possible when you order online, have food delivered to your door, or book that much-needed vacation as travel season returns.
To determine which cards can potentially help you the most, we use a comprehensive methodology that compares every aspect of each credit card to our “benchmark credit card.” So take a few minutes to look over our list of the best credit cards for September and see if one of them might be useful to you right now.
Best Starter Credit Cards for No Credit of September
1. Citi® Double Cash Card: The best flat-rate cashback card.
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has the best sign-up bonus.
3. Chase Freedom Flex: The best option for flexible rewards.
4. American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card: Best for US supermarkets
5. The American Express® Gold Card is ideal for dining.
6. Citi Premier® Card is ideal for gas stations.
7. Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card: The best card for balance transfers
8. U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card: Best introductory purchase rate
9. Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card: Ideal for quick travel redemptions.
10. The American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card is ideal for small businesses.
11. Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business: Ideal for larger companies.
Why did we choose these credit cards as our best credit cards for September? Explore the specifics of each card with us and see how they stack up.
1. Citi Double Cash Card
In a nutshell, here’s why it’s one of the best starter credit cards The Citi Double Cash Card is both simple and lucrative, with no annual fee and a market-leading 2% cashback on every purchase — 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your statement.
This card is ideal for people who want a card that works for them but don’t have the time, patience, or interest to chase bonus categories or figure out complex travel loyalty programs. This is one of the best first credit cards to build credit with no credit history.
Highlights: Earn 2% cashback on all purchases, no matter how big or small. Balance transfers made in the first four months after you open the card will have a 0% APR for 18 months (13.99% -23.99% variable afterwards).
When combined with the Citi Prestige® Card or Citi Premier, cashback can be converted to Citi ThankYou travel points at a 1 cent per point ratio. There are no annual fees and no sign-up bonus.
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred
Why it’s among the best credit cards 2022: The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, and the points can be redeemed for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards or in other eligible categories using the card’s “Pay Yourself Back” tool for 1.25 cents per point through September 30, 2022. This card is ideal for people who have higher-than-average travel and/or dining expenses and want to use credit card rewards for travel. This is one of the best first credit cards to build credit with no credit history.
Highlights: Earn three points for every dollar spent on dining, streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
Earn two points for every dollar spent on travel, or five points total if purchased through Ultimate Rewards. Earn 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides until March 2022. Points can be redeemed for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
Points can now be redeemed for purchases at grocery stores, restaurants, and home improvement stores at a rate of 1.25 cents per point until September 30, 2022. Points can also be transferred to any of the 14 airlines and hotel partners of Chase.
A 10% anniversary point bonus on all yearly spending, as well as a $50 annual hotel credit redeemable for any booking made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. There are no foreign transaction fees, but there is a $95 annual fee.
3. Chase Freedom Flex
Why it’s among the best credit cards 2022: If you can’t decide whether to earn cashback or travel points, the Chase Freedom Flex card allows you to do both when paired with the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve card. This card is ideal for: Those looking for maximum flexibility in a no-annual-fee credit card. This is one of the best credit cards to build credit as it offers guaranteed approval credit cards with 1,000 limits for bad credit.
Highlights: Earn 5% cashback on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel purchases, 3% on dining, and 3% on drugstore purchases. Earn 5% cashback in rotating bonus categories, up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter. On all other purchases, you’ll get 1% cashback.
When paired with a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve card, expert users can convert the cashback to flexible travel points. For the first 15 months, there is a 0% introductory APR on all purchases (14.99% to 23.74% variable afterwards). There is no annual fee.
4. American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card
In a nutshell, here’s why it’s one of the best starter credit cards The Blue Cash Everyday card earns 3% cashback as a statement credit at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 annually, then 1% ) and 2% back at US gas stations, as well as a generous introductory interest rate on purchases for 15 months, all with no annual fee (see rates and fees).
This card is ideal for people who spend a significant amount of money at supermarkets in the United States each year and do not want to pay an annual fee for a credit card. This is one of the best credit cards for students and is also the best first credit card to build credit.
Highlights: Earn 3% cashback at US supermarkets on purchases of up to $6,000 per year (then 1% ). Earn 2% cash back at select U.S. gas stations and department stores. Earn 1% cashback on all other purchases.
Cashback is given in the form of Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed for statement credits. For the first 15 months, there is a 0% introductory APR on all purchases (13.99% to 23.99% variable afterwards, see rates and fees). Insurance for car rental loss and damage is included. There is no annual fee.
5. American Express Gold
In a nutshell, here’s why it’s one of the best starter credit cards When it comes to food, the American Express Gold Card is unrivalled, as you will not only receive a relatively high return at both restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, but also some incredible built-in benefits.
This card is ideal for: People who eat out or order food for delivery regularly. This is one of the best credit cards for students and is also the best first credit card to build credit.
Highlights: Earn 4 points for every dollar spent at US supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1x). Earn 4 points for each dollar spent at restaurants all around the world.
Earn three points for every dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com. Earn 1 point for every dollar spent on everything else. Annual dining credits of up to $120 are available. Annually, you can earn up to $120 in Uber Cash. The annual fee is $250. (see rates and fees).
6. Citi Premier Card
In a nutshell, here’s why it’s one of the best starter credit cards The Citi Premier card has a robust set of bonus categories that make it simple to earn extra points at gas stations and many other major staples of most household budgets, and its points can be easily redeemed for travel or transferred to any of Citi’s airline partners for potentially even more value.
This card is ideal for: Those who want to earn bonus points in a variety of categories and are willing to learn how to use Citi’s diverse list of transfer partners. This is one of the best credit cards to build credit as it offers guaranteed approval credit cards with 1,000 limits for bad credit.
Highlights: Earn three points for every dollar spent at gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, airlines, and hotels. Earn 1 point for every dollar spent on everything else. Points can be redeemed for travel via the Citi ThankYou Rewards travel portal or for gift cards at 1 cent per point.
You can also transfer your points to any of Citi’s 16 airline partners. When you book a single hotel stay of $500 or more through thankyou.com, you’ll receive a $100 credit every year. There are no foreign transaction fees. The annual fee is $95.
7. Citi Diamond Preferred Card
Why it’s among the best credit cards 2022: If you need to consolidate your debt to lower your interest costs, Citi Diamond Preferred credit card offers an introductory interest rate on balance transfers for a full 18 months for transfers completed within the first four months of opening the card.
This card is ideal for people who want to consolidate existing debt at a low interest rate over a long time. This is one of the best first credit cards to build credit with no credit history.
Highlights include a 0% introductory APR for 18 months on balance transfers made within the first four months of opening the card (13.74% to 23.74% variable afterwards). For the first 18 months, there is a 0% introductory APR on all purchases (13.74% to 23.74% variable afterwards). There are no annual fees and no sign-up bonus.
8. U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card
Why it’s among the best credit cards 2022: For those who prefer not to earn cash back or travel rewards and would rather pay no interest on purchases for as long as possible, the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card offers a 0% APR on all purchases for the first 20 billing cycles you have the card (the APR rises to a variable 14.49% to 24.49% after the introductory period).
This card is ideal for people who want to take advantage of the longest possible introductory interest rate period on purchases when they first get a credit card. This is one of the best credit cards for students and is also the best first credit card to build credit.
Highlights: For the first 20 billing cycles, there is a 0% introductory APR on all purchases (14.49% to 24.49% variable afterwards). 0% introductory APR for 20 billing cycles on balance transfers made within the first 60 days of card activation (14.49% to 24.49% variable afterwards). Cell phone security. There are no annual fees and no sign-up bonus.
9. Capital One Ventures
Why it’s among the best credit cards 2022: With the Capital One Venture Credit Card, you’ll earn 2 Capital One miles for every dollar spent, and you can redeem those miles for any travel purchase at 1 cent per mile, or transfer them to Capital One’s travel partners for potentially even more valuable redemptions.
This card is ideal for people who want to earn easily redeemable miles for travel while also having the option to learn how to master transferable miles later on for even more value. This is one of the best credit cards to build credit as it offers guaranteed approval credit cards with 1,000 limits for bad credit.
Highlights: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on any purchase, no matter how big or small. Miles can be redeemed for any travel purchase at a rate of one cent per mile. Miles can be transferred to any of the 19 airline and hotel partners. When applying for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, you can receive up to a $100 credit. There are no foreign transaction fees. The annual fee is $95.
10. Blue Business Plus Card from American Express
Why it’s among the best credit cards 2022: For businesses with less than $50,000 in annual expenses, American Express’s Blue Business Plus card is a great and simple choice, as it earns a flat rate of 2 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent on all business purchases up to $50,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, and all with no annual fee (see rates and fees).
This card is ideal for small businesses looking to accumulate transferable travel rewards for future use, as well as a credit card with no annual fee. This is one of the best first credit cards to build credit with no credit history.
Highlights: Earn two points for every dollar spent on all purchases up to $50,000 per year, then one point for every dollar spent after that. Points can be redeemed for travel at a rate of up to one cent per point through Amex Travel.
Points can also be transferred to any of the 21 airlines and hotel partners of American Express. For the first 12 months, there is a 0% introductory APR on all purchases (13.24% -19.24% variable afterwards, see rates and fees). There is no annual fee.
11. Capital One Spark Miles for Business
In a nutshell, here’s why it’s one of the best starter credit cards The Capital One Spark Miles for Business card earns an unlimited 2 miles for every dollar spent on the card, plus 3 extra miles for hotel and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel with the card, and those miles can be redeemed for any travel purchase at 1 cent per mile or transferred to Capital One’s airline partners for potentially more valuable redemptions.
This card is ideal for larger businesses looking for simple-to-redeem travel rewards miles with the option of learning how to master transferable miles later on for greater value. This is one of the best credit cards for students and is also the best first credit card to build credit.
Highlights: Earn 5 miles for every dollar spent on your card on Capital One travel-booked hotels and rental cars. Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on everything else, with no cap. Miles can be redeemed for any travel purchase at a rate of one cent per mile. Miles can be transferred to any of the 19 airline and hotel partners. When applying for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, you can receive up to a $100 credit. There are no foreign transaction fees. There is no annual fee for the first year, after which it is $95 per year.
Conclusion
When you don’t have any credit, a starter credit card can help you get some. As you make credit card payments, that history is recorded in your credit report, which compiles the information used to calculate your credit scores.
When you’re new to credit, you won’t be able to get the best credit card deals. The ongoing interest rates and credit limits on starter cards are frequently high. We hope this article helped you find out the best starter credit cards 2022.
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