Name & Rating:	APR:	Features:	Annual Fee:	Credit Needed:	Bottom Line:
The TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express Apply Now Read Review	15.24% (0% for first 6 months)	3% for gas & restaurants; 2% for travel; 1% for everything else including Costco; $25 credit after first purchase	None (with paid Costco membership)	Good	3% cash back for gas & restaurants, 2% travel, 1% everything else; great for Costco members & others
Miles by Discover Card Apply Now Read Review	10.99%-18.99% (0% for first 12 months)	Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on your first $3,000 in annual travel and restaraunt purchases and 1 mile per dollar spent thereafter; 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases	None	Excellent	Best overall travel rewards card; Earn up to 12,000 bonus miles in first year
Discover Open Road Card Apply Now Read Review	10.99%-18.99% (0% for first 6 months)	5% on first $100 in gas or auto maintenance monthly; 1% on all purchases after $3k annually;	None	Excellent	5% rebate on gas and auto maintenance purchases; 0% intro APR for purchase & transfer; best overall gas rebate card
American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card Apply Now Read Review	N/A	Earn one point per dollar spent, plus bonus points for airfare, gas, and groceries; redeem points for travel, shopping and entertainment rewards	None for the first year; $175 per year thereafter	Excellent	High annual fee but includes unique Gold card benefits
Name & Rating:	APR:	Features:	Annual Fee:	Credit Needed:	Bottom Line:
Chase Sapphire Apply Now Read Review	12.24%	Earn one point per dollar spent, plus additional points on eligible airfare purchases and other online purchases made through Chase	None	Excellent	Unlimited reward points; 10,000 bonus points after first purchase
Discover More Card Apply Now Read Review	10.99%-18.99% (0% for first 6 months)	5% cash back on purchases within select categories; 1% on all others after $3k annually	None	Excellent	0% APR for 12 months on balance transfers; up to 5% cash back
Chase Freedom Credit Card Apply Now Read Review	13.24%-23.24% (0% for the first 3-12 months)	Earn 1% cash back on all purchases; earn 3% cash back in rotating spending categories; earn up to 10% cash back when you shop online through Chase	None	Good	Unlimited cash back with bonus opportunities; $50 rebate
Discover Motiva Card Apply Now Read Review	10.99%-18.99% (3.99% for first 6 months)	.25% to 1% on all purchases; Cash bonus when you pay your bill on time for six months in a row	None	Excellent	Cash back plus bonus for paying bill on time
Name & Rating:	APR:	Features:	Annual Fee:	Credit Needed:	Bottom Line:
Discover Student Card Apply Now Read Review	14.99%	Earn up to 5% cash back on qualifying purchases	None	Good	Good cash back card if you make frequent purchases in specific categories
Slate with Blueprint Apply Now Read Review	13.24%-22.24% (0% for first 12 months)	Tools to track spending and payments	None	Good	Good for those who want help managing their finances
Discover Student Open Road Card Apply Now Read Review	14.99%	Earn up to 5% cash back for spending on gas and auto maintenance	None	Good	Good cash back rates, but low caps on earnings from gas purchases

THE TRUEEARNINGS CARD REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

The TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express is exclusively available to Costco members and richly rewards cardholders with up to 3% cash back on purchases with no minimum spending amount to reach that level and no earnings limit. There is no annual fee with your paid Costco membership. If you are not currently a Costco member, you can sign up and apply for your TrueEarnings Card at the same time, and your TrueEarnings Card will also serve as your Costco membership card. A standard Costco membership is $50.00 per year. You'll earn 3% cash back on gasoline purchases, 3% cash back at restaurants, 2% cash back on travel purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases including at Costco. Unlike some other cards, there is no spending tier you must hit to start earning these generous cash back percentages. One key point here is that just about every other cash back card pays a lower cash back rate than they list for purchases at 'warehouse stores.' With the TrueEarnings Card, you will really get your 1% cash back for those Costco purchases. Your cash rebate will be issued annually as a statement credit. There is no limit on how much cash back you can earn. You'll also receive a $25.00 statement credit after making your first purchase with your TrueEarnings Card. There is a 0% introductory purchase APR for the first six months and a 15.24% purchase APR thereafter.

With no annual fee, a generous gas and cash back rewards program and a bonus $25.00 statement credit, the TrueEarnings Card is an excellent option for anyone who already has a Costco membership. In fact, the benefits of this card are so good that it would even make sense for certain people to purchase the Costco membership for the sole purpose of getting the card.

MILES BY DISCOVER CARD REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

Miles by Discover Card allows cardholders to earn 2 miles per dollar spent on the first $3,000 in travel and restaurant purchases each year, and 1 mile per dollar spent on these types of purchases thereafter, as well as 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases. Cardholders also earn 1,000 bonus miles each month that the card is used for the first 12 months. There is no limit to the number of miles that can be accumulated, and miles do not expire.

Miles can be redeemed for a credit to your account reimbursing you for any travel purchase, with no restrictions. Every 5,000 miles earns a $50.00 travel credit. Miles can also be redeemed for gift cards or cash. 5,000 miles can be traded for a $25.00 account credit or, if you prefer, the $25.00 can be deposited directly into your bank account.

The annual interest rate for Miles by Discover Card is 0% for the first 6 months, and anywhere from 10.99% to 18.99% thereafter. The balance transfer APR is 0% for the first 12 months, and the same as the purchase APR thereafter. There is also a 3% fee for balance transfers. There is no annual fee.

Miles by Discover Card is an excellent choice for anyone who would like to earn travel rewards. It will be most rewarding to consumers who are unlikely to spend considerably more than $3,000 on travel and restaurant purchases each year and who will use their credit card at least once each month. Even cardholders who only use the card occasionally or who do not travel frequently should still see benefits from this card, since miles are earned for all purchases and never expire. As far as travel rewards programs go, Miles by Discover card is quite flexible and rewarding.

DISCOVER OPEN ROAD REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

The Discover Open Road Card rewards you generously for all your gas and auto maintenance purchases. You will earn 5% cash back on your first $100 in combined gas and auto maintenance purchases each month. Initially, you will also earn .25% cash back on all other purchases. Once you have spent $1,500 with your card annually, you will begin earning .5% cash back on all other purchases, and once you spend $3,000 you will earn 1% cash back on all other purchases, including any gas and auto maintenance purchases that exceed the $100 monthly limit. These cash back tiers are based on your annual spending whereas the $100 gas and auto maintenance limit is based on monthly spending. There is no limit to the total amount of cash back you can earn. Rewards are redeemable in $20 increments.

The purchase APR is 0% for the first 6 months, and the balance transfer APR is 0% for the first 12 months. After the introductory periods end, both interest rates will be between 10.99% and 18.99%, depending on your credit. There is a transfer fee of 3%.

While the Discover Card is not as widely accepted as many of its competitors, the vast majority of gas stations do accept Discover so it is a good choice for a gas cash back card. For those that don't usually spend more than $100 on gas per month and typically dont' charge more than $2,000 overall on their credit card per month, this is by far the best gas card since you start earning your 5% on your first dollar of gas purchased. However, since the 5% rate is capped at $100 per month, if your gas and auto maintenance bill is consistently much higer than that, you may want to look at another option. Keep in mind, though, that you still get standard purchase cash back for anything more than $100 spent on gas and auto maintenance each month.

AMERICAN EXPRESS GOLD CARD REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

The American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card offers cardholders a fantastic points rewards program. For an annual fee of $175.00, cardholders earn three points per dollar spent on airfare, two points per dollar spent on gas and groceries, and one point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Points are not awarded for balance transfers, cash advances or various fees and charges from American Express. You can also earn an extra 15,000 bonus points when you spend $30,000 in a calendar year. These points have no limit or expiration date. They can be redeemed for travel, entertainment, dining, or merchandise. The American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card grants cardholders a wide variety of additional benefits and services, including early access to preferred seating at sought-after events with the Gold Card Events program.

You must pay off your American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card balance in full every month. If you do not, the late fee varies depending on the state, from zero to $35.00 or 2.99% of the delinquent balance.

If you have good credit, are able to pay off your balance in full each month, and don't mind paying an annual fee in exchange for top of the line rewards and benefits, the American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card is perfect for you.

CHASE SAPPHIRE REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

Chase Sapphire rewards cardholders with one point per dollar spent on purchases. These points can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, entertainment, dining, or cash. Redemption opportunities start at 2,500 points for a $25.00 statement credit. There is no limit to how many points you can earn, and points never expire. You can also earn double points for airfare purchases made using Chase's travel booking tool, and up to ten bonus points per dollar when you shop online at Chase's Ultimate Rewards Mall. Plus, first time Chase cardholders with new accounts receive 10,000 bonus points after the first purchase.

The APR for all Chase Sapphire cardholders is 12.24%, and there is no annual fee. Chase Sapphire now comes with Blueprint, which makes it easy to manage and track your spending history and payment progress. These tools can help you Chase Sapphire is a great option for anyone with a strong credit history who wants to earn a wide variety of rewards and may also take advantage of the useful and unique features included with Blueprint.

DISCOVER MORE CARD REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

The Discover More Card offers a 12 month, 0% intro APR for balance transfers made in the first 3 months of getting your card to all approved cardholders regardless of which ongoing APR you qualify for. It also has a generous although fairly complicated cash-back rewards program, making it a very strong choice for those looking to transfer a balance. The introductory APR for purchases is 0% for the first 6 months, and the ongoing APR ranges from 10.99% to 18.99%. The balance transfer APR is 0% for the first year, after which it will be the same as the purchase APR. There is also a 3% fee for balance transfers.

Cardholders earn 5% cash back on up to $800 in purchases within select categories including travel, home improvement stores, department stores, gas stations, restaurants, pet stores and many more. The individual categories that you can earn 5% on rotate every 3 months. For example, from October-December 2008 they are grocery stores, restaurants and movies and from January to March 2009 they are airlines, hotels, car rentals and cruises. Cardholders also earn .25% cash back on all other purchases until they spend $1,500 annually with the card, and then earn .5% cash back until spending exceeds $3,000 annually. Once cardholders reach the $3,000 threshold, they begin earning 1% cash back for all other purchases the rest of the year. Total cash back is unlimited, and cash is redeemable in $20.00 increments.

The balance transfer introductory period and interest rate are very competitive and the cash back rewards program is quite good. For consumers who have excellent credit and would like to transfer a high interest balance to a 0% account for 12 months and still have the opportunity to earn significant cash rewards, the Discover More Card is a fantastic option.

CHASE FREEDOM REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

The Chase Freedom Credit Card rewards cardholders with 1% cash back on all purchases. Cardholders also receive 3% cash back within set spending categories, which rotate on a quarterly basis. And if you shop online at Chase's Ultimate Rewards Mall, you can earn up to 10% or, at select merchants, even 20% cash back. There is no limit to how much cash back you can earn, and rebates do not expire. These rebates can be redeemed for cash, as well as travel, gift cards, or statement credits. First time Chase cardholders with new accounts receive a $50.00 bonus rebate after the first purchase.

The introductory APR is 0% for up to 12 months on purchases, depending on the strength of your credit history. After the introductory period has ended, the APR will be 13.24% for applicants with excellent credit, 18.24% for applicants with very good credit, or 23.24% for all other cardholders. There is no annual fee.

The Chase Freedom Card is a good choice for anyone who wants to earn unlimited cash back on all purchases. The terms are significantly better for those with strong credit, but even those applicants with the shortest introductory period and the highest APR will enjoy unlimited cash rewards, plus additional bonus opportunities.

DISCOVER MOTIVA REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

Discover Motiva gives cardholders a Pay-On-Time bonus when the minimum payment due is paid by the due date for six months in a row. This bonus is equal to the periodic finance charges shown on the upcoming statement. Cardholders also earn .25% cash back on all purchases until they have spent $1,500 with their Discover Motiva card, then .5% cash back until spending $3,000. After reaching the $3,000 threshold, cardholders earn 1% back on all purchases.

The interest rate for purchases is 3.99% for the first 6 months and anywhere from 10.99% to 18.99% thereafter, and the interest rate for balance transfers is 3.99% for the first 12 months and the same as the purchase APR thereafter. There is also a 3% transfer fee. There is no annual fee for the Discover Motiva card.

These terms are a bit more complicated than those of most credit cards. Since there are no limits on how much cash back you can earn, the rewards program could be quite strong, assuming that you are likely to spend $3,000 within a relatively brief length of time. The Pay-On-Time bonus could also be a nice feature, depending on whether you carry a balance or need extra incentive to pay your bill on time. If you are likely to reach the $3,000 threshold, do carry a balance, and would like an incentive to pay your bill on time, the Discover Motiva card may be just the card you're looking for.

DISCOVER STUDENT CARD REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

The Discover Student Card is designed for college students who want to begin establishing their credit history while earning cash rewards. Cardholders earn 5% cash back on purchases that fit into certain predetermined categories, including travel, home improvement, department stores, gas, restaurants and pet stores. Cardholders also earn between .25% and 1% cash back on all other purchases, plus 5% to 20% cash back through Discover's exclusive online shopping website. There is no limit to how much cash you can earn, but you must spend $3,000 with your Discover Student Card each year before you will begin earning a full 1% cash back on purchases that do not fit into Discover's preset categories. Rebates are redeemable in $20 increments, which can be issued through an electronic direct deposit to your bank account or a check. Rebates can also increase in value if they are redeemed for gift cards.

The annual percentage rate for purchases is 14.99%, and balance transfers are not permitted. There is no annual fee.

While the Discover Student Card offers reasonably good terms for students looking for a first credit card, the preset list of categories makes it difficult to predict how rewarding the cash back program might be. If most of your purchases do fall into Discover's established categories, this card will be extremely rewarding for you. If they do not, and you are unlikely to spend over $3,000 with your Discover Student Card within the first few months of each year, then this cash back program would actually be quite poor for your financial situation.

SLATE WITH BLUEPRINT REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

Chase Slate with Blueprint is designed to help cardholders manage their finances. This card includes several features that give cardholders more control, simplicity, and predictability. With Chase Slate, you can set aside regular expenses, such as groceries, gasoline, and medicine, to pay in full each month. This ensures that you will never pay interest on these basic necessities. For larger purchases, you can create a custom payment plan to ensure that you pay off the purchase on your terms. You decide how much you want to pay each month or how fast you want to pay off the entire purchase, and Chase will do the math for you and track your progress on every statement. You can also create a custom payment plan for your entire balance. Chase Slate comes with tracking tools that give you a snapshot of your purchases by category, in real time.

For applicants with very good credit, there is a 0% introductory APR for the first twelve months. After the introductory period has ended, the APR will be either 13.24%, 17.24%, or 22.24%, depending on your credit history. There is no annual fee.

If you would like to track your spending habits and payment progress, and are looking for a card that offers more control and flexibility over your finances, Chase Slate with Blueprint is a good option for you.

DISCOVER STUDENT OPEN ROAD REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

The Discover Student Open Road Card is designed specifically for college students who drive to and from school. Cardholders earn 5% cash back on the first $100 spent on gas and auto maintenance each month, and between .25% and 1% on all other purchases. Cardholders earn .25% cash back until they have spent $1,500 in annual purchases, then .5% cash back until they have spent $3,000 in annual purchases, and 1% cash back thereafter. After the $100 monthly limit has been reached, gas and auto maintenance purchases will continue to earn cash back at the same rate as other purchases. Cardholders can also earn 5% to 20% cash back through Discover's exclusive online shopping website. These cash rewards are redeemable in increments of $20, and can be issued in the form of direct deposits, checks or gift cards.

The interest rate for purchases is 14.99%, and there is no annual fee. Balance transfers are not permitted with the Discover Student Open Road Card.

Technically, the Discover Student Open Road Card does offer cardholders unlimited cash rebates. But the structure of this cash rewards program will not be especially rewarding to cardholders who spend significantly more than $100 on gas and auto maintenance each month, or who will not easily reach the $3,000 threshold necessary to begin earning a full 1% cash back. This rewards program is also unique in that it requires cardholders to reach this threshold each year, making it quite difficult to see substantial cash back rebates. There is also no introductory interest rate, which makes the Discover Student Open Road Card less appealing than many other student credit cards.