Best Visa Credit Cards in 2024
Our top pick for best Visa credit card
Our top pick for best Visa credit card
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is our pick for the overall best Visa card. It offers a generous welcome bonus, valuable cash back rewards and an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers — all with no annual fee.
Citi is an advertising partner.
Visa is so well known that the company name is almost synonymous with “credit card.” While you may occasionally encounter merchants that don’t accept American Express or Discover, cards on the Visa network are widely accepted in the United States and abroad. To make sure you’re never caught unable to pay, it’s a smart move to have one of the best Visa credit cards in your wallet.
Many banks and credit unions issue Visa credit cards because of Visa’s worldwide acceptance and valuable Visa card benefits. Visa cards are often laden with benefits, depending on the type of card you have — Traditional, Signature and Infinite. Visa Signature cards, for example, may include hotel perks through the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel collection, rental car privileges and protections for your cell phone, flights and checked baggage.
Best Visa Credit Cards in 2024
Winner (cash back credit card)
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.


How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- Earn up to 5% cash back on select categories
- $0 annual fee
- Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of the most rewarding credit cards around, since it lets you earn a high flat rate on your purchases, plus bonus cash back on lucrative categories like dining and Chase travel. It even gives you an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
You’ll also get extra time to pay off new purchases or transfer an existing balance without interest charges. This card gives you a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months and a 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months (followed by a 18.99% - 28.49% Variable APR). It also comes with a good set of Visa benefits, including purchase protection, extended warranty and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
In addition, it’s also a great option for cardholders who already have cards in the Chase Ultimate Rewards® family — you can pair it with premium Ultimate Rewards cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and get a bonus by redeeming your rewards for travel.
- Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Visa business credit card
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.


How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.- Large sign-up bonus
- Up to 3X points on business purchases
- Earn valuable, flexible points
- Transfer points to 10-plus loyalty program partners
- Travel protections and primary rental car insurance
- $0 foreign transaction fees
- Requires Excellent credit
- $95 annual fee
- Sign-up bonus requires large spending in short timeframe
- Bonus categories capped at $150,000 per year
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns a high rate of valuable Ultimate Rewards points on a variety of common business purchases. It also comes with great travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance and primary rental car insurance.
It might be the card you want if your business requires frequent travel and your spending aligns well with the following rewards categories:
- Travel
- Advertising with social media and search engines
- Internet, cable and phone services
- Shipping
Your rewards are also extremely flexible — redeem them for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal and get 25% more value, or transfer points to more than 10 hotel and airline loyalty programs at a 1:1 value.
- Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Visa travel credit card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.


How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.- Earn up to 5x points on purchases
- Points are worth 25% more when booking travel through Chase
- Large sign-up bonus
- Trip cancellation/interruption and primary rental car insurance
- $0 foreign transaction fees
- Restrictive rules prevent some from applying, attaining bonus
- Requires Excellent credit
- No intro APR offers
You can score a large number of flexible, valuable Ultimate Rewards points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, thanks to its generous sign-up bonus and high rates on dining and travel purchases. This Visa travel card also offers valuable travel protections, including primary rental car insurance.
It’s excellent for consumers who travel frequently, but don’t want to shell out a high fee for an expensive luxury card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Just like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you get a 25% bonus on points when you redeem them through Chase TravelSM. You can transfer points to more than 10 loyalty programs, including United, Southwest and Hyatt. Plus, this card also includes some of the best credit card travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance and primary rental car insurance.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Visa credit card for fair credit
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.


How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.- Earn cash back with timely payments
- Credit lines up to $25,000
- No annual fee or late fees
- Bonus when opening a checking account and make qualifying transactions
- Minimum credit line is just $500
- Cash back rewards are based on payments, not purchases
The Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® offers cash back rewards and a robust credit line up to $25,000. It encourages you to pay down your balance by offering a bonus rate on timely payments rather than purchases.
It’s ideal for customers who are able to repay their purchases quickly. You’ll earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment and enjoy a $0 and no late fees. You can also $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking Preferred account and making 3 debit card transactions*.
- $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking Preferred account and making 3 debit card transactions*
- 1.5% unlimited cash back on every purchase
- No annual fee
- See if you qualify in seconds with no impact to your credit score
- Combine the flexibility of a card with the predictability of a personal loan
- Enjoy Visa Signature benefits, like Roadside Dispatch, Price Protection, Extended Warranty Protection, and more
- Shop smarter with Upgrade Shopping! Get exclusive savings at stores, restaurants, and more
- Contactless payments with Apple Pay® and Google Wallet™ Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere
- Use your card anywhere Visa is accepted
- Relax knowing that you are protected in case of unauthorized transactions with Visa’s Zero Liability Policy
- *To qualify for the welcome bonus, you must open and fund a new Rewards Checking Preferred account through Upgrade and make 3 qualifying debit card transactions from your Rewards Checking Preferred account within 60 days of the date the Rewards Checking Preferred account is opened. If you have previously opened a checking account through Upgrade or do not open a Rewards Checking Preferred account as part of this application process, you are not eligible for this welcome bonus offer. Your Upgrade Card and Rewards Checking Preferred account must be open and in good standing to receive a bonus. To qualify, debit card transactions must have settled and exclude ATM transactions. Please refer to the applicable Upgrade Visa® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information. Welcome bonus offers cannot be combined, substituted, or applied retroactively. The bonus will be applied to your Rewards Checking Preferred account as a one-time payout credit within 60 days after meeting the conditions. This one-time bonus is available through this Upgrade Card offer and may not be available for other Upgrade Card offers.
Visa airline miles credit card
The New United Quest℠ Card
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.


How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.- Generous welcome bonus
- Numerous United benefits — free checked bags, flight credits, purchase credits and more
- Earn elite status credits based on spending
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry reimbursement
- $125 credit for United purchases (including airfare)
- $350 annual fee
- Lackluster bonus categories and rewards
- No 0% intro APR offer
The The New United Quest℠ Card offers a wealth of benefits, including a large sign-up bonus, bonus miles on a wide variety of purchases and the potential to get elite status with your spending.
This Visa airline credit card is best for travelers who prefer to fly United Airlines. Its benefits make traveling easier and less expensive with free first and second checked bags, priority boarding and 25% off in-flight purchases. Plus, MileagePlus Premier travelers booking flights with miles are eligible for complimentary upgrades.
It does have a $350 annual fee, but it also comes with an annual $125 United credit that applies to most purchases on United, including airfare. If you regularly fly with United, this credit can easily offset half your annual fee each year.
- Best Offer Ever: Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 3,000 PQP
- 3x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining, select streaming services, and all other travel
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- Receive a $200 United® travel credit and 10,000-mile award flight discount on each account anniversary
- Earn a 10,000-mile eligible award flight discount after spending $20,000 each calendar year
- Earn 2 global Economy Plus® seat upgrades after spending $40,000 on purchases each calendar year
- Get a jump start on earning Premier status with 1,000 Card Bonus PQP each year, awarded within 6 to 8 weeks after February 1 each year, starting in 2026.
- Member FDIC
Visa hotel credit card
World of Hyatt Credit Card*
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.


How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.- Earn a large sign-up bonus
- Get bonus points on dining, flights, local transit and gyms
- Annual free night and the option to earn a second based on spending
- Automatic Discoverist elite status and credits towards higher status
- Bonus categories exclude gas, groceries and other common expenses
- Annual free nights are capped at Category 1 to 4 properties
- Limited footprint of Hyatt properties
On top of earning valuable Hyatt points, the World of Hyatt Credit Card grants the best hotel benefits of any Visa hotel card. You’ll enjoy automatic Discoverist elite status, a free night each year (Category 1 to 4) and complimentary travel and purchase protections. Cardholders can earn a second free night and additional elite night credits based on their spending. It charges a reasonable annual fee that’s easily offset by the free night and elite status benefits.
- Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent
- Enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open.
- Get 1 free night each year after your Cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort
- Receive 5 tier qualifying night credits towards status after account opening, and each year after that for as long as your account is open
- Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
- Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
- Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
- Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
Visa credit card for balance transfers
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card*
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.


How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.- Long intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Extend your intro offer by three months with on-time payments
- Customers have 120 days to complete balance transfers
- $0 annual fee
- Cellphone protection with a $25 deductible
- Doesn’t offer a welcome bonus
- No rewards on purchases
- Foreign transaction fees of 3%
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card offers an outstanding intro period on balance transfers — 21 months. It also allows cardholders up to 120 days to complete balance transfers at the introductory rate.
Consumers who need extra time to pay off their balances will benefit from the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card. It provides almost two years of interest-free financing. In addition, cardholders have almost four months to complete their balance transfers to receive the introductory 0% interest promotion.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.
Compare Visa credit cards
Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Recommended Credit Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion | |
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Chase Freedom Unlimited®
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Winner
|
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening | Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases | Good / Excellent |
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
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Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Business
|
Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn. | Excellent |
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Travel
|
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases | Excellent |
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
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Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
on Upgrade's secure site Rates & Fees |
Fair credit
|
$200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking Preferred account and making 3 debit card transactions* | 1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment | Fair |
on Upgrade's secure site Rates & Fees |
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The New United Quest℠ Card
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Airline miles
|
Best Offer Ever: Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | 3x miles on United® purchases. 2x miles on dining, select streaming services & all other travel. 1x mile on all other purchases. Plus, receive a $200 United® travel credit and 10,000-mile award flight discount on each account anniversary, as well as earn up to 18,000 Premier qualifying points. | Good / Excellent |
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
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World of Hyatt Credit Card*
|
Hotel
|
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent. | Earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member. 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit and commuting as well as fitness club and gym memberships. Plus, earn 1 Bonus Point per $1 spent on all other purchases. | Good / Excellent | |
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Wells Fargo Reflect® Card*
|
Balance transfers
|
N/A | None | Good / Excellent |
What is Visa?
Visa is a payment network that processes credit card transactions on behalf of merchants, banks and cardholders. While many credit cards have a Visa logo, Visa doesn’t issue its own credit cards. Unlike American Express and Discover, it solely relies on banks and other card issuers to offer its credit cards.
You’ll have an easy time using a Visa credit card most places you go. Visa and Mastercard® are the two most-accepted credit card types around the world. Visa is accepted in more than 200 countries and territories and you can access cash at over 2.5 million ATMs worldwide. While Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most merchants, Visa has an exclusive arrangement where it is the only credit card accepted at Costco warehouse stores.
Pros and cons of Visa credit cards
- Worldwide acceptance
- Variety of credit cards for every credit profile
- Potential to earn rewards on purchases
- Additional benefits, like Visa Signature hotels and concierge services
- The best Visa benefits are reserved for cards with higher annual fees
- Merchants may apply a surcharge when using a credit card
- Benefits vary, even among the same type of Visa (e.g., Visa Signature cards)
- Interest charges can exceed benefits if you carry a balance
Types of Visa credit cards
Visa offers three tiers of credit cards that offer differing levels of benefits — Platinum, Signature and Infinite. Higher tiers generally offer more robust benefits and exclusive offers that accompany their higher credit score requirements and larger annual fees.
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Visa Traditional
Visa Traditional Cards are entry-level credit cards with basic benefits. These benefits include emergency card replacement, zero liability for unauthorized transactions and roadside dispatch. Visa Traditional cards are also known as “Visa Platinum” cards, and they may include other benefits that are specific to the card issuer. These cards are also eligible for exclusive Visa offers and perks.
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Visa Signature
Visa Signature cards are Visa’s mid-tier cards, which, frankly, offer many of the same excellent benefits as Visa’s highest tier of cards, Visa Infinite. Visa Signature cardholders receive trial offers and discounts for services like Shipt, Sofar and Skillshare. They also have access to exclusive perks through the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection and Visa Signature Rental Car Privileges.
You’ll also enjoy benefits at participating Sonoma wineries or when booking golf outings through Troon Rewards. Many Visa Signature cards will also include Priority Pass lounge access, rebates for airline fees and travel and purchase protections to cover unexpected problems.
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Visa Infinite
Visa Infinite credit cards are Visa’s highest level of credit card, offering luxury perks and travel benefits. Visa Infinite cards include all benefits of lower-level cards, as well as exclusive offers, perks and benefit levels catering to Infinite customers. Visa Infinite cards offer 24/7 concierge service, access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection and enhancement of some benefits found in Signature and Traditional Cards.
Visa Traditional | Visa Signature | Visa Infinite | |
---|---|---|---|
Emergency card services | X | X | X |
Extended warranty | X | X | X |
Price protection | X | X | X |
Purchase protection | X | X | X |
Concierge services | X | X | Visa Infinite concierge services |
Visa Luxury Hotel collection | X | X | X |
Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit | X | X | |
Rental car insurance | X | X | |
Baggage insurance | X | X | |
Travel insurance | X | X | |
Airport lounge access | X | X | |
Travel statement credits | X | X | |
Luxury hotel collection added benefit | X | ||
Car rental privileges | X |
Who issues Visa credit cards?
Many banks offer both Mastercard® and Visa cards to meet their customers’ needs. You’ll find that most major issuers, including Capital One, Chase and Citi, offer Visa credit cards. In contrast, American Express and Discover run their own payment networks and only issue credit cards on their networks.
Issuer | Visa cards offered? | Example |
---|---|---|
American Express | No | N/A |
Bank of America | Yes | Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card |
Capital One | Yes | Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card |
Chase | Yes | Chase Freedom Unlimited® |
Citi | Yes | Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi |
Discover | No | N/A |
U.S. Bank | Yes | U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card |
Wells Fargo | Yes | Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card |
How to apply for a Visa credit card
If you’re ready to apply for a Visa credit card, you can follow these tips to boost your odds of approval:
- Clean up your credit report. Before you apply, make sure your credit report is correct. Studies show that one in four Americans have an error on their credit report which can affect their credit score. Access your credit report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com to look for errors, then submit corrections.
- Reduce your existing balances. Your amounts owed make up 30% of your credit score. By reducing your credit card balances, you can boost your credit score before applying for new credit.
- Gather your personal information. Make sure you have all your personal info on hand when you apply. At a minimum, you’ll need your address, phone number, date of birth, Social Security number and income. If you’re applying for a hotel or airline credit card, you’ll also need your loyalty number to link accounts.
- Apply for offers that match your credit. You can significantly lower your chances of rejection by making sure your credit score is in the recommended range for a credit card before you hit the apply button (note, you’ll find recommended credit ranges for the offers on this page). But, first, you’ll need to know your credit score. Many banks and websites offer free credit scores, including our own LendingTree Spring. If your score is not high enough for your preferred card, continue improving your score until you qualify.
- Check for preapproved offers. You can find preapproved credit card offers on many issuers’ websites. First, you’ll need to fill out a short form with some personal info so the card issuer can perform a soft credit check. Based on those results, the issuer will share credit cards you have the best odds of being approved for (if any). You won’t have a hard inquiry on your credit report until you formally apply for a specific card.
Frequently asked questions
Visa isn’t a credit card, per se. Rather, it’s a payment network that partners with credit card issuers to process payments. You’ll find the Visa logo on many credit cards. However, debit cards and prepaid gift cards may also carry the Visa logo.
No. While many consumers associate the Visa brand interchangeably with credit cards, not all credit cards are Visa. Within the U.S., you’ll find cards issued on other payment networks, including Mastercard®, American Express and Discover.
Yes, Costco exclusively accepts Visa cards at its warehouse locations, including credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments. Costco has its own co-branded card from Citi called the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. However, Costco’s website does accept cards from other payment networks, including Mastercard® and Discover.
Visa credit cards were first introduced in 1958 when Bank of America launched BankAmericard, the first consumer credit card program in the U.S (not to be confused with the card currently on offer from BofA). The cards expanded internationally in 1974, and the first Visa debit card was released in 1975. BankAmericard became Visa in 1976.
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to Visa credit cards. Visa credit cards offer a variety of rewards, intro APR offers, benefits and annual fees. The best Visa credit card is one that matches your spending patterns, goals, credit score and budget.
When you apply for a Visa credit card, there are different credit criteria depending on the bank or card issuer you’re applying with. There are Visa credit cards matching every type of credit, from bad to excellent credit, as well as cardholders just starting their credit journeys. No matter what your credit score is, you can find a Visa credit card that matches your credit profile.
Yes, Visa is accepted both within the U.S. and abroad. Visa and Mastercard® are the most widely accepted credit cards, so if the vendor accepts cards, they’ll most likely accept your Visa. If you’re traveling out of the country, get a Visa credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
When you rent a car with your Visa credit card, you may be protected against damage or theft of your rental car. Your benefits will vary based on the card issuer and the type of Visa reward cards you have. Remember, though, that even if your card has auto rental collision damage waiver benefits, it doesn’t cover injuries to people or damage to other cars or property.
Travel insurance protects customers in case their travel plans go astray. These travel protections cover you when flights are canceled, checked bags are delayed or rental cars are damaged. Benefits vary depending on the type of Visa you have and who issues the card. For the most accurate answer, call your card’s customer service or message them through the bank’s website or mobile app.
Whether a Visa or a Mastercard® is better for you will depend on the specific cards you’re considering and what you need in terms of factors like rewards, APR and annual fees. With either payment network, you can find cards with excellent rewards and benefits and wide international acceptance.
Methodology: How we chose the best Visa credit cards
In choosing the best Visa credit cards, we evaluated a variety of factors. For one thing, if a card has a generous rewards program, that was weighed in favor of it being included. And if the card offers flexible redemption options — such as being able to transfer points to partners — that was also considered a positive.
Valuable benefits also counted toward a card’s inclusion. For example, most credit cards that offer rental car coverage offer secondary coverage (which is activated only after the consumer’s personal insurance covers as much as it can). So the fact that Chase offers primary coverage on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card increases the value of those cards.
Additional factors evaluated in this selection include intro APRs, annual fees and foreign transaction fees.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The information related to the World of Hyatt Credit Card, Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card and Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.