A credit card with a cool metal design or an eye-catching neon hue can be a great conversation starter — it may even be considered a status symbol among cardholders. However, just because the appearance of a credit card impresses your friends when you pick up the bar tab doesn’t mean it’s a good choice for you.
Fortunately, some of today’s most visually appealing credit cards also offer competitive rewards and benefits, so you won’t have to sacrifice substance for style.
We’ll look at some of the best-looking credit cards for 2023 and how they might be useful to you.
The American Express Gold Card is ideal for foodies
Why we chose it: If the traditional yellow gold color of the American Express® Gold Card isn’t fashionable enough for your wallet, the card is also available in rose gold. This option is available to both new and existing cardholders. The rose gold color was previously only available through American Express’s referral program or through limited-time offers. However, the design was so popular that American Express decided to make the color permanent.
Why it is ideal for foodies: The Amex Gold isn’t just gilded in appearance; its benefits are as well, especially for foodies. As a cardholder, you’ll earn 4X points on restaurant purchases (including takeout and delivery in the United States), 4X points on Uber Eats purchases, 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, and 1X points on all other purchases. In addition, new cardholders will receive a 60,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 within the first six months of account opening.
Of course, carrying the Amex Gold comes at a cost — the annual fee is $250 — but heavy restaurant spenders will easily cover the cost of membership. Each year, you can earn up to $120 in dining credits ($10 per month; enrollment required) to use toward purchases at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations. You’ll also receive up to $120 in Uber Cash per year ($10 per month) for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders in the United States.
Other noteworthy benefits include no foreign transaction fees, trip delay insurance, baggage insurance, and car rental loss and damage insurance. In addition, when you book a two-night stay with The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel, you’ll receive up to a $100 experience credit.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: The best way to travel in style
Why we chose it: Because of its minimalist and sophisticated design, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® will look great in your wallet. In the upper right corner, a dark blue design fades into angular, lighter shades of blue. The card’s jewel-toned color palette and durable metal design perfectly complement the premium perks and travel rewards offered by this luxury card.
Why it’s ideal for stylish travel: The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the best travel credit cards available right now. New cardholders will receive 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.
Furthermore, the Chase Sapphire Reserve increases the value of your points by 50% every time you book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, which means your welcome bonus could be worth up to $1,200. In terms of rewards, you’ll get 10X points for hotel stays and car rentals through Ultimate Rewards, 10X points for Chase Dining purchases through Ultimate Rewards, 10X points for Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025), 5X points for air travel through Ultimate Rewards, 3X points for general travel and restaurant purchases, and 1X points for everything else.
Each account anniversary year, you can receive up to a $300 annual travel credit; a $100 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS; complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge access; 1:1 point transfers to Chase airline and hotel partners; and exclusive Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection amenities. You’ll also have access to top travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation/interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, auto rental collision damage waiver, and emergency evacuation and transportation coverage. All of these benefits come at a premium price — $550 per year. However, if you travel frequently and use the majority of the card’s benefits, you should be able to recoup the cost each year.
The American Express Platinum Card is ideal for flying in style
Why we chose it: The American Express Platinum Card® comes in a classic platinum color that is both chic and iconic. Furthermore, beginning in January 2022, Amex Platinum cardholders can choose between two new eye-catching designs. The Platinum x Kehinde Wiley design, which features wildflowers on top of the classic design, and the Platinum x Julie Mehretu design, which features a colorful, abstract design on top of the classic design, are both available.
Why it’s the best option for flying in style: The American Express Platinum, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, is one of the best elite travel credit cards available — as it should be for a $695 annual fee. While the Chase Sapphire Reserve is well-suited for all types of travel due to its higher earning rates on Lyft rides and general travel, as well as its broad annual travel credit, the American Express Platinum is a better choice for frequent flyers due to its earning structure, numerous credits, and extensive lounge access.
To begin, the Amex Platinum card earns 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year), 5X points on prepaid hotel reservations booked through American Express Travel, and 1X points on all other purchases. In terms of flight-related benefits, you’ll have access to over 1,400 lounges in the American Express Global Lounge Collection, up to a $200 airline fee credit for incidentals, up to a $189 credit for Clear membership, up to a $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, lower fares on international seats (for up to eight tickets on the same booking) through Amex’s International Airline Program, 1:1 points transfers to Amex partners, trip delay insurance, trip interruption/cancelation insurance, trip
Other advantages worth mentioning: The American Express Platinum card offers an incredible number of benefits, making it one of the most valuable cards on the market. It comes with a welcome bonus of 80,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first six months of card membership, which can be redeemed for up to $800 through American Express Travel. Other noteworthy benefits include up to $200 in credit for prepaid hotel bookings at Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection properties through American Express Travel, up to $200 in Uber Cash per year ($15 per month, plus an extra $20 in December), up to $240 in digital entertainment credits per year, up to $300 in eligible Equinox fitness membership credits per year (credited annually-see offer terms for details), and up to a $155 annual credit for a Walmart+ membership.
Apple Card: The best option for no fees
Why we chose it: The Apple Card* has received widespread acclaim not only for its no-fee structure and daily rewards redemptions, but also for its titanium construction and laser-etched engraving. The card is entirely white, with a silver Apple logo in the upper left corner. It’s also minimalist, with no card number, expiration date, or identifying information other than the cardholder’s name.
However, the Apple Card’s rewards structure and integration with the iPhone’s Wallet app encourage you to use your mobile wallet rather than the actual card. This means you might not get as many chances to show off the card’s sleek design, which could be a disadvantage if the card’s appearance is important to you.
Why it’s best to avoid fees: Aside from its good looks, the Apple Card stands out for its lack of fees. There are no annual fees, late payment fees, penalty fees, cash advance fees, foreign transaction fees, over-limit fees, or returned payment fees with this card. Furthermore, there is no penalty APR, and the card has a low variable APR ranging from 10.99 percent to 21.99 percent.
Other advantages worth mentioning: If you like Apple, the Apple Card has a good rewards structure, especially if you plan on making a purchase from the company soon. You’ll get 3% cash back on all Apple purchases, 3% cash back at select merchants (including Exxon, Mobil, Nike, Uber, and Walgreens, among others), 2% cash back on all other Apple Pay purchases, and 1% cash back on everything else.
The Apple Card’s user-friendly design is also worth mentioning. It supports seamless integration with your iPhone and Apple Pay, intelligent payment suggestions, and the creation of an Apple Card Family account. All of these features are especially useful for people who have little experience with credit cards.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Ideal for dining and entertainment
Why we chose it: The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has a burnt orange color scheme, a ripple-effect design, and a metal construction. Few cards today have an orange design, so this card will stand out in your wallet.
Why it’s ideal for dining and entertainment: The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card doesn’t just look good; it also offers good cash back rates on dining and entertainment, which is unusual for a no-annual-fee card. You’ll get 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 5% back on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel, 3% back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), and 1% back on everything else.
If you spend a significant portion of your budget on seeing shows and going out, or if you enjoy picking up the tab when dining out with friends, this rewards rate is difficult to beat. Furthermore, the entertainment category is broad, including movie theaters and sporting events (except college sporting events), as well as theme park tickets, aquariums and zoos, amusement parks, and other attractions.
Other advantages worth mentioning: A $200 cash bonus after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening; access to exclusive events and dining experiences through Capital One Entertainment; access to the Capital One Shopping portal; no foreign transaction fees; and a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months are also included (followed by a variable APR of 19.24 percent to 29.24 percent).
Learn about it. Cash Back: The best option for higher cash back rates
Why we chose it: If you want to be able to pick your credit card design from a variety of options, the Discover it® Cash Back gives new cardholders a choice of 25. Solid colors such as light pink, silver, or lime green, beach or city scenes, faded rainbow designs, and other designs are available. It’s worth noting that, while most Discover cards allow you to customize your design, the options available will vary depending on the card you have.
Why it’s best for higher cash back rates: The Discover it Cash Back program gives you 5% cash back on activated, rotating categories every quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%), and 1% cash back on everything else. Grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, Amazon, and Target are all common quarterly categories.
If you maximize your cash back every quarter, you will earn $300 in cash back over the course of the year.
Discover’s automatic Cashback Match will double that $300 to $600 at the end of the first year for new cardholders. Of course, after you reach the quarterly cap, you’ll still earn 1 percent on purchases, plus 1 percent on all other purchases, so your first-year rewards will likely be even higher. That’s not bad for a card that has no annual fee.
Other advantages worth mentioning: You’ll also get no foreign transaction fees, no penalty APR or late fee on your first late payment (up to $41), and a 15-month 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (then a variable APR of 16.24 percent to 27.24 percent).
How to Choose the Most Attractive Credit Card
Because beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the best-looking credit card will always be a personal choice. A metal credit card can make your payments more interesting and impress your friends, whereas a brightly colored card may stand out among the other options in your wallet. Perhaps the distinct look of a credit card with a personalized image is more your style.
However, you should avoid selecting a card solely based on its appearance. Check to see if the best credit card for you matches your needs and spending habits. Consider the following:
- Your credit report. When looking for the best credit card, the first step is to assess your credit history and credit score. These two factors will determine which cards are available to you.
- Your purchasing habits. Examine your previous statements and receipts to determine which categories you spend the most money in. Do you, for example, spend a lot of money on restaurants and groceries? If this is the case, you should look for a credit card that offers higher rewards for restaurant and grocery purchases.
- Fees on an annual basis. An annual fee is only worthwhile if the cost of card membership is recouped through rewards and benefits. For example, if you don’t travel frequently or know you won’t use a card’s travel credits, a high-annual-fee travel credit card isn’t worth it.
- Card advantages. Many credit cards include additional benefits such as welcome offers, merchant credits, limited-time promotions, purchase and travel protections, and more, in addition to varying reward structures.
- Elite travel credit cards typically have high annual fees and provide the most luxurious benefits such as travel credits, lounge access, elite hotel status, or excellent travel insurance.
- Any outstanding debts or upcoming purchases. Do you intend to make a large purchase soon, carry a balance, or pay off debt? For a limited time, many credit cards offer a 0% intro APR on purchases or balance transfers, which can help you pay off a large purchase over time or pay down debt without paying interest.
